98 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



Daucus (Carrot). See Kitchen Garden. 



Davallia, Hare's-foot fern (davall-ia, after Signer Davalli. Ord. 

 Filices) . A large genus of ferns, several of whose members are very 

 handsome in pots and hanging baskets in warm greenhouses. They 

 thrive in loam and leaf soil, with a little peat and sand. Add 

 Sphagnum moss for basket plants. Propagation is by spores (see 

 ferns), and division of the rhizomes, or creeping stems (the likeness 

 of these to a hare's foot has given the popular name), in the case of 

 canariensis, which will thrive in a cool greenhouse or room. They 

 all love moisture. The " fern balls " seen in shops are made of the 

 pliable dry rhizomes of D. bullata Mariesii packed with Sphagnum 

 moss. A few of the best species are canariensis, dissecta, elegans, 

 hirta cristata (syn. Microlepia hirta cristata), and pallida (syns. 

 Moorei and Mooreana). 



Day Lily (Hemerocallis). See Bulbs. 

 Dead Nettle, Lamium. 



Deciduous. A term applied to plants which shed their leaves 

 annually. 



Delphinium, Larkspur (delphin-ium, from delphin, a dolphin, re- 

 ferring to the resemblance of the spur to a dolphin's head. Ord. 

 Ranunculaceae) . A large and important genus of hardy herbaceous 

 perennials, valuable for colour groups in large borders. For culture 

 and uses, see Flower Garden. Of the species, Ajacis is the annual 

 Rocket Larkspur, and consolida is the parent of the annual branch- 

 ing Larkspur. Nudicaule, growing about 18 ins. high, with scarlet 

 flowers in summer, is used in borders. See the Botanical Magazine, 

 t. 5819. Few other species are grown, preference being given to 

 the garden forms which have been raised from cheilanthum, elatum, 

 grandiflorum, peregrinum, and formosum. The following are 

 beautiful varieties : 



Autolycus, Beauty of Langport, Belladonna, King of Delphiniums, 

 Persimmon, and True Blue. 



There is a charming variety called Blue Butterfly, which, raised 

 from seed in a frame in spring, blooms the same year ; thus treated 

 it only grows about 9 ins. high. 



Dendrobium (dendro-bium, from dendron, tree, and bios, life, in 

 allusion to their growing on trees. Ord. Orchidaceae). A large 

 an5 beautiful genus of epiphytal Orchids, requiring a warm house. 

 In the growing season they enjoy abundance of heat and moisture, 

 but they may be kept cooler and drier when growth is mature. 

 They may be grown in pots or baskets, and should be potted when 

 new growth begins. Use crocks liberally, and pack a mixture of 

 fibrous peat and Sphagnum moss about the roots. The erect 

 growers, such as nobile, thyrsiflorum, densiflorum, and fimbriatum, 

 may be grown in Orchid pots ; but those of pendulous habit are best 

 in baskets. The winter temperature may range from 50 to 60, 

 spring 60 to 70, summer 65 to 85 (with sun heat), autumn 60 to 

 70. The following are some of the principal species and varieties : 



