258 On the Culture of the Daphne Odor a. 



ture has contributed to render it less sought after than many- 

 other less beautiful plants. Our correspondent, Mr. J. W. 

 Russel, who was a most successful grower of the daphne, 

 contributed an article in our first volume, (I, p. 296,) upon 

 its cultivation : but so long a time has elapsed, and as many 

 of our present readers may have never read his excellent 

 paper, we copy with pleasure the following article from the 

 Gardener s Clironicle^ being more full and complete than 

 any thing we have lately read upon the same subject. With 

 good judgment, no amateur cultivator can fail to raise fine 

 specimens of this fragrant and popular plant. — Ed. 



" The great anxiety manifested nowadays for the possess- 

 ion of plants that are called new is, I fear, producing, in 

 many instances, the effect of pushing aside some of our old 

 plants, with which very many of the new ones are not to be 

 compared. Without affecting to despise novelties, or to be 

 indifferent to subjects of the most recent introduction, I am 

 anxious to call attention to some old and valuable, but com- 

 paratively neglected plants. 



One of this description, I believe, is the Daphne odora, 

 whose claims on our notice, in point of usefulness, are per- 

 haps second to none. Flowering at a time when flowers are 

 so much wanted to enliven our conservatories, or for decorat- 

 ing the drawing-room, renders a good stock of it a great ac- 

 quisition. I am aware that many plants might easily be 

 enumerated, with whose gaudy appearance this is not to be 

 set in competition ; but, among all the winter flowering plants 

 with which I am acquainted, I could not point out another 

 that would more amply repay the labors of the cultivator. 

 And yet, if you go into any place where the introduction of 

 new plants is much attended to, the chances are you do not 

 see it at all ; and. if you do, instead of it occupying the prom- 

 inent place it deserves, you will generally find it pushed into 

 some out of the way corner of the greenhouse, as if it were 

 an object totally unworthy of our care or attention. In such 

 situations, its appearance is just what might be expected from 

 such unkind treatment — a few sickly-looking leaves on the 

 top of long straggling branches, and looking altogether as if it 

 would say, " Give me air or I shall die " But under the in- 

 fluence of more generous treatment, how difierent its aspect — 



