March.'] PERENNIALS. 39 



D. montdnum, are good varieties, and easily cultivated. 

 When the plants become large, they ought to be divided, 

 and planted in fresh soil. They are in bloom from May 

 to September. 



Dianthus. Some of the species of this genus are the 

 most prominent of the flower garden, riot only for their 

 beauty, but also their fragrance, which is peculiarly grate- 

 ful, especially in the well-known and celebrated Pink and 

 Carnation, with the Sweet William, which was esteemed 

 in the days of old " for its beauty to deck up the bosoms 

 of the beautiful, and garlands and crowns for pleasure." 

 The finest species are D. barbdtus and D. barbdtus pleno, 

 Sweet William; D, discolor; D. chinensis; D. alpinus ; 

 D. superbus; D. caryophylhis, from which have originated 

 the Picotee and the Carnation; D. plumdrius, from which 

 originated the Double Pink. Several of these, although 

 they will stand the severest cold, have to be protected in 

 frames during winter, to have them in the perfection of 

 beauty. For the character of a Pink and Carnation, see 

 May. 



Dictdmnus. Two species of this genus, D. fraxinella 

 and D. dlbus, have been cultivated and esteemed upwards 

 of two hundred and forty years. A plant of the first of 

 these species, when gently rubbed, emits an odour like that 

 of lemon-peel ; and when bruised emits a balsamic scent, 

 which is strongest in the pedicles of the flowers. They 

 have glands of a rusty colour, that exude a viscid juice, or 

 resin, which exhales in vapour, and in a dark place may 

 be seen to take fire. Its flowers are red, those of the other 

 white, in loose terminal spikes ; the flower has five petals, 

 clawed and unequal, with glandular dots ; in bloom from 

 May to July; delights in sandy loam. 



Dodecdtheon. This is a native genus* and commonly 

 called American cowslip. The generic term, a name of 

 the Romans, signifying twelve gods or divinities, is applied 

 with great absurdity to a plant, a native of a world the 

 Romans never saw nor had any idea of; neither resem- 

 bling in any particular, the poetical fancy of their writers. 

 The most admired species is D. media; the flowers are in 

 umbels, on a pedicle, from six to twelve inches high; the 

 corolla is rotata reflexa, colour light purple, bottom of petals 

 lake and yellow; blooming in May. The white variety is 



