D I A P E R i D M D I C E 11 M A. 



275 



The management of carnations consists not only in 

 placing the layers in suitable soil, but in taking care 

 that if potted, the pots be well drained, so that water 

 rnay not stagnate within, which would materially check 

 the growth and spoil the beauty of the flowers. Water 

 must be always supplied moderately, and without 

 excess of either moisture or dryness. The layers 

 when taken off the stools are first placed in small-sized 

 pots, and usually shifted twice into larger, before they 

 are brought to flower. The most perfect cleanliness, 

 keeping free from weeds, and defending against snails, 

 slugs, ear-wigs, and wood-lice, are all indispensable, 

 through the whole course of their growth. When the 

 stems are advancing to flower they are often attacked 

 by the green-fly or aphides ; these must be banished 

 by tobacco-smoke, or some other means not hurtful 

 to the plants. Props must also be timely fixed to tie 

 the sterns to, as they advance in height ; and as 

 several flower-pods will appear on the same stem, all 

 but the topmost, or the two topmost, should be cutoff; 

 this is for the purpose of encouraging the principal 

 flowers to bloom in greater beauty and amplitude. 



In order to assist the flowers to expand regularly 

 and handsomely, florists exercise certain manipula- 

 tions which are exclusively their own ; these are 

 called hooping and carding. The calyx or flower-cup 

 is liable to burst irregularly, that is, it will be rent 

 lower down on one side than on the other ; to pre- 

 vent this, two expedients are practised : the first is 

 causing the divisions of the flower-cup to open 

 equally by assisting the backward ones with the point 

 of a penknife ; and the second is by hooping, that is, 

 by fixing a band of matting or soft string round the 

 middle of the flower-pod, by which means the divi- 

 sions of the calyx are made to burst regularly. These 

 precautions regulate the bursting of the calyx ; and 

 in order that the corolla, or coloured petals of the 

 flower may be expanded laterally and symmetrically, 

 circular cards (having a hole in the centre to embrace 

 the calyx) are fitted on immediately behind the 

 spreading petals of the corolla, the card acting as a 

 support to the petals, which naturally incline to fall 

 back. By these means the petals are exhibited in a 

 plane ; besides which every tint and form are seen to 

 the best advantage, and when so dressed up by the 

 skill of the professional florist, are certainly objects of 

 great beauty. 



These practices are only followed by flower-fanciers 

 who exhibit their flowers at shows for prizes, and at 

 which there is sometimes the most intense and lively 

 competition. 



Pinks receive nearly the same treatment as carna- 

 tions, only instead of being layered, they are propa- 

 gated by cuttings, technically called " pipings." This 

 is usually performed in June or July, or as soon as 

 the best sorts can be ascertained by view of their 

 flowers. See article PINK. 



The annual sorts of Dianthus are raised from seed ; 

 and all the other species and varieties may be propa- 

 gated by layers or cuttings without difficulty. 



DIAPERIDJ2. A family of coleopterous insects 

 belonging to the section Heteromera, and sub-section 

 Taxicorncs of Latreille ; the head is disengaged from 

 the anterior margin of the thorax, which is either 

 square or cylindric, and, as well as the elytra, not 

 dilated into a flattened margin, as in the Cossyphidee. 

 Latreille places in this family the Phaleriae, and some 

 other genera which appear to belong to the family 

 E, in which family, indeed, the whole of 



the present group is arranged by Mr. Stephens, whilst 

 Mr. Curtis considers the Diaperidce as nearly allied 

 to the Hclopidce; the perfoliated or serrated antennae, 

 which are never monili form .will well distinguish them. 

 The other genera are Uloma, Diaperis, HypophUeus, 

 Trncliyscclis, Coxclitx, and Eledona (Boletophagits, 

 Fabricius). The family is not extensive, as regards 

 the number of species, some of which are elegantly 

 marked and coloured, in which respect thev certainly 

 approach the Helojrida:. The species are of small size, 

 and are, for the most part, found in fungi, Boleti, under 

 the bark of decaying trees, &c. The typical gennsDia- 

 pem.Geoftroy.is distinguished by the antennae.of which 

 the three basal joints are slender, the remainder broad, 

 transverse, and distant from each other. The type of 

 the genus is the Chrysomela boleti of Linnaeus, of a 

 rounded form, and black colour, having the base and 

 extremity of the elytra, as well as a central interrupted 

 fascia, orange-coloured. 



DI APHORA (Stephens ; CYCNIA, Hiibner. Steph.) 

 A genus of lepidopterous insects, belonging to the 

 family ArctadcB, and consisting of a single species, the 

 Bombyx mendica of Linnaeus, having the wings short, 

 and clothed with but few scales, whence the English 

 name of the moth (spotted muslin) ; the palpi have the 

 terminal joint slender and obtuse. The name of the 

 genus alludes to the great diversity between the sexes 

 of this moth, the male being of an ashy brown colour, 

 whereas the female is white, with black spots. It is 

 about an inch and a half in expanse. We have already 

 on several occasions noticed the occasional periodical 

 delay which takes place in the development of insects, 

 and this moth offers a still more curious instance, it 

 being recorded by Marsham, that out of thirty-six 

 caterpillars hatched from a brood of eggs, all of which 

 fed together and spun their cocoons at the same 

 period, twelve only appeared at the usual season ; 

 twelve more were produced the following year, and 

 the remaining twelve the third season, as perfect 

 and healthy as those produced at the first. The moth 

 is not uncommon in marshy districts near London, 

 appearing at the middle of May. 



DIAPRIA (Jurine). A genus of minute hymen- 

 opterous insects belonging to the family Proctntru- 

 pidte, and distinguished by the beautiful antennae of 

 the males, which have the joints globular and con- 

 nected together by slender articulations and orna- 

 mented with whorls of hairs. They are found in 

 grass, upon trees, &c., and are supposed to be para- 

 sitical upon other insects. 



DIAZOMA (Savigny). A genus of molluscs 

 united to the genus Botryllus. 



DICERAS (Lamarck). A fossil genus of mol- 

 luscs, approximating to the genus Chama, from which, 

 however, it differs by being regular, equivalve, never 

 attached by the lower valve, and the distinct character 

 of the hinge. 



DICERATA. The second family of the second 

 order Polybranchiata. Second class Paracej)halophi>ra. 

 The general characters of these molluscs is their 

 possessing two tentacular retractile appendages placed 

 on the upper part of the body in a kind of sheath, 

 situated at their base ; a membranous wing or sail, 

 more or less extended above the mouth, the organs 

 of respiration in the form of little branches, exter- 

 nally placed. 



DICERMA (Decandolle). A genus of under- 

 shrubs, indigenous to India. Elegant diadelphous 

 plants, formerly called Zornia and Hedysurum, by 

 S2 



