bis 



[ 336 ] 



DIS 



D, spatula.' tit (spatula-Jt/>/>eri). 

 June. 18U5. 



Pale blue. 



DISA'NDRA prostra'ta we have united 

 to Sibtho'rpia. 



DISBUDDING is the removal, soon j 

 after they have burst into leaves, of 

 such buds as it' allowed to grow into 

 shoots would be misplaced. Thus, 

 buds protruded directly in the front of 

 branches trained against Avails, or fore- 

 right shoots, as they are correctly 

 termed, and buds that would produce 

 shoots in places already sufficiently 

 filled with branches, may be removed, or 

 disbudded. The object is to strengthen 

 the desirably-placed buds by thus con- 

 fining to them the expenditure of sap. 

 There is no better mode of aiding a 

 weakly plant to a more vigorous and 

 robust growth than judicious disbud- 

 ding; but an over-robust and super- 

 luxuriant tree had better be allowed to 

 exhaust itself by a more profuse deve- 

 lopment of leaf buds. By judicious 

 disbudding, which should always be 

 performed gradually, any winter prun- 

 ing is almost rendered unnecessary, 

 and in all instances is diminished. 



DISCA'KIA. (From d is/cos, a disk, 

 having a large fleshy disk. Nat. ord,, 

 Rhamnads [llhamnacea;]. Linn., 4- 

 Tctrandrla 1-Monoijynia. Allied to 

 Colletia.) 



Greenhouse evergreen from New Holland. 

 Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, in sand, under a 

 glass, in April, kept rather close and hot ; sandy 

 loam and peat. Summer temp., 55 to 75 ; 

 winter, 40 to 45= 

 D. austra'lis (southern). Yellow. May. 1824. 



DISCHI'DIA. (From dis, twice, and 

 schizo, to split ; referring to an obscure 

 process in the construction of the 

 flower. Nat. ord., Aschpiads [Ascle- 

 piadaceoe]. Linn., b-Pentundria 1-3/b- 

 Hot/i/nia. Nearly related to Stepha- 

 notis and Hoya.) 



Stove evergreen trailers, with white flowers. 

 Cuttings in sandy soil, in heat, any time in the 

 spring and summer months ; sandy loam. Sum- 

 mer temp., 60 to 80 ; winter, 48 to 55. 

 D. Bengale'nsis (Bengal). 1^. September. 



India. 181Q. 



nummula'ria (Moneywort-tezued). . Au- 

 gust. Amboyna. 



DISEASES. The morbid affections to j 

 which the vegetable part of the creation j 

 are liable, are almost as numerous as j 

 those which render decrepid and de- | 



stroy the animal tribes. The smut 

 which ravages our corn crops ; the 

 mildew which destroys our peas; the 

 curl infecting our potatoes; the am- 

 bury, or club -root, to which our turnips 

 and other species of cabbage-worts are 

 liable; the shanking or ulceration 

 which attacks the stalks of our grapes, 

 are only a few of the most commonly 

 observed diseases to which the plants 

 we cultivate are liable. 



Disease is the negation of health ; 

 and as the health of a plant is the 

 correct performance of its functions, 

 disease may be defined to be an in- 

 correct performance of the functions. 



Such incorrectness arises from the 

 vital energy declining in consequence 

 of old age ; from parasites ; from 

 wounds ; from food improper either in 

 quality or quantity; and from un- 

 favourable temperature. If all these 

 could be avoided, a plant might enjoy 

 a vigorous immortality. Such, how- 

 ever, is not the lot of any organized 

 being, and we note them chiefly to re- 

 mind the gardener, that in proportion 

 as he can save any plant from such un- 

 favourable circumstances, will it enjoy 

 health, and length of vigorous life. 



DISE'MMA. (From dis, double, and 

 stcnimu, a crown ; referring to the 

 double coronet or rays. Nat. ord., 

 Pnssionworts [Passifloraceai]. Linn., 

 16-Monadelphia 2-Pentandria. Allied 

 to Tacsonia.) 



Greenhouse evergreen climbers from New 

 Holland. Cuttings of young shoots, in sum- 

 mer, in sandy soil, under a glass, and in gentle 

 bottom-heat ; peat and loam. Winter temp., 

 45 to 50. 



D. adiant ifo'lia (Adiantum-leaved) . 20. Orange. 

 July. 1/92. 



ntirn'ntia (orange). 15; White, red. July. 



Herbc 1 rtiana (Herbert's). 30. Green, white. 



July. 1821. 



DISOCA'CTUS. (From dis, twice, isos, 

 equal, and cactos. The divisions of 

 the petals and sepals equal, and twice 

 two, and the habit of a Cactus. Nat. 

 ord,, Cactusworts [Cactacece]. Linn., 

 I'-i-Icosandria \-Monogynia. Allied to 

 Rhip satis.) 



This curious plant forms the connecting link 

 between the Epiphyllum and Rhipsalis sections 

 of the order, but in general appearance inclines 

 much more to Rhipsalis. Stove evergreen. 

 Cuttings after fresh growth has commenced, 



