Dalbergia 



( 279 ) 



Daphne 



DALBERGIA. 



These trees {an/. Leguimnoste) require stove 

 treatment. There are many species, most of which 

 have white flowers. They have no decorative 

 value. They are propagated from cuttings in 

 spring under a bell-glass over bottom heat, and 

 grow in fibrous loam, peat, ami sharp sand. 



Principal Species : 

 lattfolia, oO'. sum., \vh. Sissoo, 30', sum., wh. 



DALEA. 



A MTV large genus (ord. Leguminosrc) but little 

 represented ill gardens. The plants thrive in loam, 

 peat, and plenty of coarse sand. With one ex- 

 ception, they :ire shrubby perennials. They are 

 propagated by cuttings in March, in sand, under 

 a bell-glass. 



Principal Species : 



alopecuroitles, 2', sum., mntabilis, 1J', Oct., wh., 

 Inly, aim., hi. pur. 



Mutisii, 1!', Jy., pur. 



DALECHAMPIA. 



Stnve evergreen climbers (ord. Euphorbiacea}). 

 Propagation is by spring cuttings in sandy soil, 

 beneath a bell-glass. They do best in equal parts 

 of peat and loam, with some sand. The principal 

 species is rnezliana. which has yellow and rose 

 blooms All the others produce greenish white 

 flowers ; they grow from 6' to 12' high. 



DAMASONIUM. 



A small genus of aquatics (ord. Alismaces) known 

 chiefly by its British species. Under cultivation it 

 should be treated like the Alismas, or Water 

 Plantains. 



Principal Species : 



siellatnm. IV. sum., wh., yel. (syns. Alisma 

 Damasonium and Actinocarpus Damasonium). 



DAMNACANTHUS. 



These intermediate house shrubs (ord. Rubi- 

 aeea') have strong, opposite spines. They may be 

 increased by cuttings in very sandy soil beneath a 

 bell-glass, over bottom heat, and grown in rich, 

 mellow loam. peat, and sand. 



Principal Species : 



iniliciis, spr.. grh. or hdy. cv. :-hr., wh. 



DAMPIERA. 



A genus of blue flowering herbs or shrubs (ord. \ 

 Goodenovies 1 ) that thrive in a minimum winter ! 

 temperature of 38 and a minimum summer heat 

 of r>">. Propagation is by division or cuttings, and 

 the plants grow well in peat and loam with sand. 

 There are from six to twelve species, all from 

 Australia, and nil ranging from G" to 12" high; 

 they mostly flower in May. 



Principal Species : 

 Brownii, li', .Ty., bl. 



l>iilfii (nf (1 ir rlner, sec Mirrodori). 

 DiiUliiirilii (xi-c Jlulm*). 

 Dal mil tin a Cn/i(xiv 'I'nlipa). 

 llnl i ijinpli'ii (.-<(' Tur/i'mia). 

 humus/; /.'<( (xce Ittlises). 

 Damask Violet (see JIi-x/>i'rix). 

 Daiinistiiiiiiiii (of Srliri'hir. sn' Ottelia). 

 Dami's /.'/.-/ (.m- lli:i/,eru). 

 Dammura (r A 



DAMPING OFF. 



Gardeners, amateur and professional, fully under- 

 stand the condition of plant life known as "damp- 

 ing off." That this state is the result of the 

 working of a minute fungus is not generally known, 

 but it is a fact that excessive moisture in soil and 

 atmosphere presents a condition which the fungus 

 takes advantage of and so is able to destroy tender 

 seedlings, young cuttings, succulent plants, etc. 

 Ample drainage, a porous compost, and careful 

 watering are necessary to prevent damping; and 

 in the case of tender seedlings and cuttings it is 

 advisable to surface the soil with fine sand ; this 

 prevents excessive moisture standing around the 

 "neck." or " collar," of a plant, which is the point 

 most liable to attack. 



DAMSON. 



Description. The Damson is an improved form 

 of the Bullace, Prunus insititia (ord. Rosaceiu), and 

 is highly valued. It is exceedingly useful to plant 

 on the margins of orchards as a wind-break to 

 protect more tender trees. It is usually grown in 

 the form of standards and half-standards, and 

 after the foundation has been properly laid prac- 

 tically no pruning is required. 



Propagation. By grafting, budding, seeds, and 

 suckers, the latter method being invariably adopted 

 for the popular variety Farleigh Prolific. Instruc- 

 tions for the two first named processes will be 

 found under their respective heads. 



Soil. -Any fertile, well-drained soil that contains 

 lime is suitable. 



Principal Varieties : 



Bradley's King, large, pur., dense bloom ; flesh 

 thick and well flavoured ; ripe end of Sep. ; a 

 heavy cropper. 



Crittenden, or Farleigh Prolific. Fruit medium, 

 blk. with a bl. bloom; flesh juicy and sweet; ripe 

 end of Sep. ; very prolific. 



Prune. The Cheshire or Shropshire Prune is 

 large, oval, blk. with a bl. bloom ; flesh yellowish 

 grn. and of good flavour ; ripe middle of Sep. The 

 Hereford Prune is a longer oval, and the Worcester 

 Prune is oval ; both are excellent varieties. 



Rivers' Early. Valued for its earliness, as it is ripe 

 by the middle of Aug. ; it is of fine quality. This 

 var. was raised from St. Etienne Plum by the late 

 Mr. Francis Rivers. 



DANDELION. 



Its thickened root and closely packed rosette of 

 broad leaves make Dandelion the despair of those 

 who desire beautiful lawns, for it kills the choicer 

 Grasses by starving them, and "padding" is the 

 only good remedy. If, however, it is not a success 

 in the flower garden it has some value in the kitchen 

 garden, where it is sometimes cultivated for the 

 sake of its bitter leaves, these taking the place of 

 Endive in salads. The wild form is useful for this 

 purpose, but the French form is better. Dandelion 

 roots have some medicinal value as a diuretic, and 

 sometimes when dried and ground they are used 

 as a substitute for Chicory, with coffee. 



DAPHNE. 



Description. Highly ornamental and sweet- 

 scented shrubs (ord. fhymehraceie), prized in the 

 garden, shrubbery, rock garden, or consenatory. 

 Some make pretty pnt plants, and the well-known 

 D. Mezereum, the Mezereon or Spume (Hive, is 

 valued for its early, profuse blooming habit. 



J>n in-ill/: (HIT 



