DID 



[ 339 ] 



DIG 



DIDYMOCHTJF/XA. (From dhlymos, 

 twin, and chhiimt, a cloak ; referring to 

 the coverings of the spore-cases, called 

 seed-vessels. Nat. ord., Ferns [Poly- 

 podiacere]. Linn., S-i-Crifptogamia 1- 

 Filicrs.) 



Handsome stove ferns, allied to Oxygonium. 

 Divisions ; peat and loam. Summer temp., 

 60 to 85; winter, 50 to 55. 

 D.pulcJte'rrirna (fairest). July. Brazil. 



trunca'tiila (little tree). 4. June. Brazil. 



1838. 



DIET.Y'TRA. ( From (//.v, two, ande/y- 

 tron, a slieath ; referring to the two 

 sepals, which embrace the flowers in 

 this order, and give the remarkable 

 brilliancy to the flowers of D. spccta- 

 bilis. Nat. ord., Fumeu-orts [Fiuna- 

 riacese]. Linn., \l-Dladdpltia 'i Hcx- 

 unrlrta.' Allied to Corydalis.) 



D. spectabilis is the most brilliant hardy 

 plant added to our collections for many years, 

 but furnishes the most obvious example of the 

 remarkable economy of the sexual organs of its 

 race. The flowers of Fumitories never open, 

 and their peculiar construction seems to offer 

 no means for the pollen to escape ; but, by a 

 peculiar contrivance connected with the parts, 

 fecundation is effectually and simply brought 

 about. We have failed, .however, to effect the 

 process artificially with D. spectabilis. This 

 most beautiful plant was described by Linnseus 

 from dried specimens, but was not seen alive by 

 any European until Mr. Fortune found it in 

 gardens in the north of China, and sent it, in 

 18i6, to the London Horticultural Society. It 

 is a spring-flowering, deciduous herbaceous 

 plant, with large lleshy roots; the stalks and 

 leaves rise to 18 inches or two feet, and look 

 like a small-leafed tree-pceony; the flowers are 

 produced on spikes from four to six inches long, 

 and hanging down gracefully on one side. It 

 requires rich light soil, and is readily increased 

 by dividing the crown of the roots early in 

 spring, or by cuttings after the plant is in 

 growth. It. will find its way, like the China 

 rose, into every cottage garden. All hardy 

 herbaceous, and flowering in June ; the same 

 culture is applicable to all the species. 



D. brncteo'sa (bracted). 1. White. N. Ame- 

 rica. 1823. 



Canade'nsis (Canadian), jf. White. N. 



America. 181Q. 



ciiculla'riu (Monk's-hood). ?. White. N. 



America. 1/31. 



exi'mia (choice). 1J. Flesh. N. America. 



1812. 



formo'sa (handsome). 1. Flesh. N.Ame- 



rica. 1796. 



laclienuliteflo'ru (Lachenalia-flowered). l. 



Purple. Siberia. 1826. 



specio'sa (showy). 1. Flesh. 1810. 



specta'bilis (remarkable). 1. Purple. Si- 



beria. 1810. 



temiifo'lia (fine-leaved). J. Pink. Kamt- 



' 1820. 



DIERVI'LLA. (Named after M. Dier- 



ville, a French surgeon. Nat. ord., 



i Gaprifalh [Caprifoliaceae]. Linn., f>- 



: Pentnndria l-Jfonoyynia. Allied to 



Leycesteria.) 



A creeping rooted hardy shrub. Suckers 

 from the roots ; cuttings in the open ground, in 

 autumn; common moist, shaded, garden soil. 

 D. lit' tea (yellow-flowered). 3. June. N. Ame. 

 rica. 1739. 



DIE 'TIS. See Movafa. 

 DIGGING with the spade or fork has 

 for its object a loosening of the soil so 

 as to render it more fit for the reception 

 ! of seeds or plants. Begin at one end 

 of the piece of ground, and with your 

 spade open a trench quite across, one 

 good spade wide and one deep, carrying 

 the earth to the end where you finish ; 

 then, keeping your face to the opening, 

 proceed to dig one spade deep regu- 

 larly from one side of the piece to the 

 other, turning the spits neatly into the 

 trench, and the next course against 

 these; and so keep digging straight 

 back, spit and spit, still preserving an 

 open trench, a good spade width and 

 depth, between the dug and undug 

 ground, that you may have full room 

 to give every spit a clean turn, taking 

 all the spits perpendicularly, and not 

 taking too much before the spade, espe- 

 cially in stiff land, or where the surface 

 is full of weeds, or is much dunged; 

 so giving every spit a clean turn, the 

 top to the bottom and the bottom to 

 the top, that the weeds or dung on the 

 surface may be buried a due depth, 

 and that the fresh earth, may be turned 

 up. As you proceed, break all large 

 clods, and preserve an even surface, 

 carrying both sides and middle on 

 i equally, unless one side shall be hol- 

 ; low ; then carry on the hollow side 

 first in a gradual sweep, inclining the 

 i spits of earth rather that way, which 

 will raise that side and reduce the high 

 one, observing the same if both sides 

 I are high and the middle hollow, or 

 ! both sides hollow and the middle high, 

 ! always keeping the lower ground ad- 

 i vancing gradually before the higher, 

 i by which you will always maintain a 

 ! uniform level. 



> The same should also be observed 

 I in beginning to dig any piece of 



