DESMODIUM. 



148 



DIBBLE. 



beds or groups, their gorgeous spikes of 

 flowers, of almost endless shades, from 

 pearl-white to the very richest and deepest 

 blue, render them conspicuous objects in 

 the flower garden and pleasure ground : 

 they delight in deep, highly enriched soil. 

 All kinds are raised from seeds, but the 

 herbaceous perennials may be increased by 

 cuttings and division of the roots as well. 

 The common larkspur (Delphinium 

 Ajads) belongs to this genus, which 

 includes D. formosum and many others 

 remarkable for magnificent spikes of 

 bloom, chiefly of darker or lighter shades 

 of blue. 



(nat. ord. Legumino'sse). 

 A pretty greenhouse plant, flowering in 

 long spikes of white, rose, blue, or purple, 

 and having curiously twisted seed-vessels. 

 It succeeds well in sandy loam and peat, 

 and is propagated by seeds or cuttings 

 struck under a hand-glass in sand in gentle 

 bottom heat. Desmodium Canadense, with 

 red flowers inclining to purple, is a hardy 

 variety. 



Deilt'zia (nat. ord. Saxifra'gese). 



A beautiful hardy shrub, covered with 

 pretty snowdrop-like flowers when in 

 bloom, exceedingly valuable for the spring 

 decoration of the conservatory. They are 

 propagated by cuttings under a hand-glass 

 in spring or autumn. The plants should 

 be repotted every year in a compost of rich 

 loam, well rotted cow manure, and coarse 

 sand. They are well adapted for forcing. 

 but should be exempted from this process 

 every alternate year. The best-known 

 variety is Deutzia gracilis, with pure white 

 flowers, which attains a height of from I to 

 2 feet at most, and is well suited for deco- 

 ration within doors. 



Rose. See Roses, Tea 

 Scented China. 



Dian'thus (not. ord. Caryophylla'cera). 

 A beautiful genus, which embraces some 

 of the most popular flowers in cultivation. 

 The carnation, picotee, pink, and sweet- 

 william, all universal favourites, belong to 

 this genus. Dianthus Sinensis and its 

 varieties may be considered the most beau- 

 tiful and effective of our hardy annuals ; 

 the double and single varieties, with their 



DIANTHUS HEDDEWIGII. 



rich and varied colours in beds or masses, 

 are remarkably attractive ; while the re- 

 cently introduced species, D. Heddewign, 

 with its large rich-coloured flowers, 3 

 to 4 inches in diameter, close compact 

 habit, and profusion of bloom, is unsur- 

 passed for effectiveness in beds or mixed 

 borders. 



Dibble or Dibber. 



This is an indispensable tool in any 

 garden where much planting out is done, 

 and must be called into requisition for 

 the transference to open ground or other 

 quarters of most plants that are grown in 

 seed bed's originally, and then planted 

 apart at regular and wider intervals. 

 The best form of dibble is shown in the 

 accompanying illustration. It may be de- 

 scribed as a short piece of rounded wood, 

 terminating in a blunt point at one end, 

 and a handle like that of a spade at the 



