Encyclopaedia of Gardening i o i 



Dielytra. See Dicentra and Bulbs. 



Diervilla, Weigela (diervill-a, weige-la, the former after Dr. Dier- 

 ville, the latter after C. E. Weigel. Ord. Caprif oliaceae) . These 

 are amongst the most beautiful of deciduous shrubs, and should be 

 grown in every garden. Thriving in almost any well-drained soil, 

 there are few places in which they will not succeed. In deep, 

 friable, manured ground, and with adequate moisture, they will 

 throw up a considerable number of shoots every year, and the best 

 placed of these should be selected for a well-shaped bush, the others 

 being removed after flowering, as the new shoots will bloom well the 

 following year. Rosea (florida or amabilis) is the principal species ; 

 it has rose flowers in spring. Abel Carriere, Eva Rathke, and Van 

 Houttei are three fine varieties. 



Digging. The fertility of the soil turns greatly on the tillage, and 

 proper digging has great influence. The digger should have both 

 spade and fork, large, and made of steel. In some states of the soil 

 the spade is the better implement, in others the fork; experiment 

 quickly decides which should be chosen. Ground is best dug when 

 damp, but not sodden with recent rain. The blade or prongs 

 should be driven in with the foot at an angle of about 45, then 

 the handle depressed, the lower hand slid down to the base, and the 

 portion lifted and turned over. It is well to throw it a little forward 

 in turning, so as to keep a small trench open, into which the manure 

 that has been spread can be placed. By working in a straight line 

 across the piece, and digging evenly, a perfect level is maintained. 

 It is a good plan to begin digging a piece of ground by taking out a 

 " spit " of soil and wheeling it to the other end, as there is then an 

 open trench all the way, and material at hand to fill the last one 

 with. Annual weeds should be buried as the work proceeds, 

 perennial ones forked out, dried, and burned. 



Digitalis, Foxglove (digita-lis, from digitale, a finger-stock, in 

 allusion to the shape. Ord. Scrophularineae). The Foxglove is an 

 old favourite, and seedsmen now sell splendid strains of the old 

 species purpurea. There is a form (campanulata) which bears 

 flowers at the top of the stem. Of the other species ambigua is one 

 of the best. It has yellow flowers. For Foxglove culture, see 

 Biennials. 



Dill. See Kitchen Garden Herbs. 



Dimorphotheca (dimorphothe-ca, from dimorphos, two-formed, 

 and theca, receptacle, the disc having different forms of floret. Ord. 

 Compositae). An unimportant genus, but the species aurantiaca, 

 which grows about a foot high and bears a profusion of orange 

 flowers in summer, has come to the front in recent years. For 

 culture, see Annuals Half-hardy. 



Dioecious. A species with separate male and female flowers on 

 separate plants. 



Dionaea, Venus's Fly-trap (dionae-a, from Dione, a name of 

 Venus. Ord. Droseraceae) . The only species, muscipula, is in- 

 teresting from the fact that the bristles on the leaf lobes are irritable, 



