On the Culture of the Daphne Odora. 261 



If, in hot dry weather, red spider should make its appear- 

 ance upon the leaves, let them be well syringed with clean 

 water, applied with considerable force early in the afternoon ; 

 shutting them up close for the night, to keep a moist atmos- 

 phere about them; repeating the operation for several days 

 in succession, and that pest will soon disappear. 



By a little attention in summer, their flowering season 

 may be very much prolonged. This is to be effected by set- 

 ting aside some plants, and giving them only a partial sup- 

 ply of water for about six weeks, which will check rapid 

 growth, promote the ripening process, and act on them, in 

 some measure, as a season of rest. Then induce them, by 

 giving copious waterings of weak liquid manure, to make an- 

 other growth in autumn, thereby causing their flowering 

 points to be formed at a much later period than they other- 

 wise would have been. Plants treated in this way will not 

 commence flowering generally till some time in January, in- 

 stead of the usual season, November. 



The Daphne odora is easily propagated by cuttings in Feb- 

 ruary, planted in sandy peat, and placed in a gentle bottom 

 heat, with a close, humid atmosphere. The cuttings 1 have 

 found to make the best plants are the tops of last year's shoots 

 which have flowered during the winter; allowing that por- 

 tion where the truss of flowers had dropt from to remain on 

 the top of the cutting, which, from the number of buds formed 

 close together around that place, will generally break from 

 three to six young shoots ; thereby laying the foundation of a 

 fine, handsome, bushy plant. Good plants may also be ob- 

 tained by grafting on the Spurge Laurel, (Daphne Laureola,) 

 and placing them, till a union takes place, in a similar situ- 

 ation to that recommended for cuttings. 



If any remark I have made in this paper be the means, in 

 the most remote degree, of drawing the attention of those who 

 have the convenience at command of doing justice to this 

 neglected plant, my object will be fully accomplished. Plant- 

 ed out in the border of a conservatory, orangery, or camellia 

 house, it would be quite at home, and be an object of consid- 

 erable interest during the whole winter ; and prove invalua- 

 ble to those who require nosegays at that dull season." 



