Dumasia 



( 313 ) 



Earina 



DUMASIA. 



This small genus (iml. Leguminosse) comprises 

 evergreen twiners which flourish in the greenhouse. 

 The best soil consists of fibrous loam and sandv 

 peat, and propagation may be by seeds sown over 

 slight heat ; or by cuttings of moderately firm 

 growths in very sandy soil beneath a bell-glass over 

 gentle heat. 



Principal Species : 



puli. 'sirens (arc villosa). villosa, 6', aut., yel. 



DUNG. 



This general title is recognised as including all 

 animal excrement valuable for increasing the 

 fertility of land, but usually it has more particular 

 reference to farmyard and stable manure. Though 

 farmyard manure varies in value with the nature 

 of the food and litter given to the animals, it is 

 about the best that can be employed, as it returns 

 the constituents of plant food to the soil, though 

 not all of them in sufficient quantities. Too often, 

 farmyard and stable manures are allowed to accu- 

 mulate in the open, where wind and rain rapidly dis- 

 sipate a most valuable constituent, ammonia ; such 

 manure heaps should always be under a roof and 

 so situated that the drainings from them, and the 

 cowshed, may be thrown on to them occasionally to 

 keep the mass moist. A covering of gypsum will 

 also prevent the loss of ammonia. Horse or stable 

 manure ferments rapidly and is warmer than cow 

 manure, but unless turned regularly and kept 

 nicely moist it soon loses its value as a fertiliser. 

 Lime may be added to fresh manure to fix the 

 ammonia, but not to decayed manure. 



Sheep manure contains rather more nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid than horse droppings, but it 

 decomposes slowly ; it is useful on some soils, but 

 is somewhat lacking in potash. Pig manure is 

 extremely rich, but as it decomposes slowly it is 

 best mixed with stable or farmyard manure. Cow 

 manure alone is cooling in its effects, and is most 

 valuable when mixed with water and applied to 

 growing crops ; when dried and powdered it also 

 forms an excellent ingredient in potting soils for 

 strong-rooting subjects. 



Poultry excrement is technically known as a 

 " strong " manure, because it contains a great deal 

 of nitrogen in the readily assimilated form of uric 

 acid. Some absorbent, like peat, dry earth, or leaf 

 mould, should be mixed with poultry manure so 

 that its valuable properties may be retained until 

 nee led. Stored in this way and subsequently passed 

 through a sieve, poultry manure makes a famous 

 top-dressing for growing crops. Natural guano, 

 the accumulation, through long ages, of the 

 excrement of sea birds, is more highly concentrated 

 and valuable than poultry manure, but similarly 

 it is a highly nitrogenous fertiliser. Human 

 excrement, generally known as night soil, is not so 

 much used as formerly, owing to the increased 

 sanitation and sewage works, and the absence of 

 earth closets. Night soil is nevertheless a most 

 valuable manure to deal with. It needs to be 

 covered with dry earth, both to prevent odour and 

 to retain volatile substances. 



As dung becomes converted into humus it 

 increases the water-holding capacity of the soil, 

 consequently unles drainage and cultivation are 

 of the best it tends to reduce the soil temperature, 



Jfarnerilla (of Lcujasca, see Jungia). 



but the advantages that result during the wannest 

 part of the year outbalance the disadvantages. 

 Long, green dung assists in keeping stiff soils open, 

 whereas short, decomposed dung tends to con- 

 solidate light soils and make them more retentive 

 of moisture. 



DURANTA. 



This is a genus (ord. Verbenaceae) of blue- 

 flowered greenhouse evergreen shrubs. There are 

 several species, but they have no great measure of 

 popularity. Propagation is by cuttings in sand 

 beneath a bell-glass over bottom heat, and a 

 mixture of equal parts of peat and loam is a suit- 

 able soil. 



Principal Species : 



Plumieri, IS', Oct., bl. alba, wh., fruit amber. 



(KI/HI. dentuta, Ellisia, stenostachya, 10', Oct., 



inermis,audxalapensis). bl. 



DURIO. 



An evergreen tree (ord. Malvaceae). The fruit 

 is the celebrated Durian. It should be grown in 

 loam and leaf mould, in the stove. Propagation is 

 by spring cuttings in sand beneath a bell-glass 

 over bottom heat. 



Principal Species : 

 zibethinus, 50', My., wh. 



DUVALIA. 



These South African succulent plants (ord. 

 Asclepiadeic) differ from the better known Stape- 

 lias in floral structure, but require precisely similar 

 treatment in a warm greenhouse. 



Principal Species : 



Corderoyi, 4", Aug., grn., glomerata, 4", Aug., br. 



pur., br. hirtella, 6", Aug., br. 



elegaus, 4", Aug., pur. radiata, 4", Aug., pur. 



DYCKIA. 



Dyckias (ord. Bromeliaceie) are like small Pine, 

 apple plants. They are increased by suckers, and 

 should be grown in the greenhouse in a mixture of 

 light loam, sand, and mortar rubbish. Afford 

 perfect drainage, and water judiciously in winter. 



Principal Species : 



altisshna, 2', Sep., yel. frigida, li', Feb., or. 



brevifolia, Aug., yel. random, 2', Je., or. 



DYPSIS. 



This is a genus of Palms (ord. Palmjc) from 

 Madagascar, that must be grown in the stove. 

 They require sound loam, and may be propagated 

 from seeds. 



Principal Species : 

 Hildebnuultii. mailagascariensis. 



EARINA. 



A group of eight or nine species (ord. Orchid- 

 acese) from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

 They are all of small growth, and are best managed 

 in a stove, suspended in shallow baskets and 

 planted in fibrous peat and sphagnum. Stock is 



Itvretia (nee Hielimeria). 



lliiii-liiinni'.-i I'ijie (nee A rixtnlncliia Siplio). 



lini-iiiiii. (.< Si-hiavi). 



liiu-rrnoia (nee Adhatoda). 

 Dyssodia (sen Di/sudia). 

 Kcujle l-'i-rii (./ Iteri* ai/ui/ina,'). 

 tragic \\~ootl (see Aquilaria). 



