298 THE NURSERY-MANUAL 



about the plant in spring to a depth of 2 or 3 inches and fill with 

 fine compost to within 2 inches of the tops of the shoots. The 

 next spring, carefully wash away the compost, and plant the small 

 white buds in pots of fine soil. Place in a cool frame. This method 

 is specially adapted to D. Cneorum. Cuttings may be used. Soft 

 wood from forced plants may be taken for this purpose. Mature 

 wood may also be employed, particularly in the evergreen species ; 

 the cuttings are set under glass in fall and carried over winter 

 in a cool greenhouse, mild bottom heat being applied in spring. 



The plants are sometimes propagated in winter by grafting on 

 seedling stocks or on roots. Seedlings of D. Laureola and roots of 

 D. Mezereum make good stocks for D. odora. The stock most used, 

 probably, is D. Mezereum roots. 



D. odora is propagated by ripened cuttings in a cool house, in 

 sand ; sometimes the old wood can be used ; the time is determined 

 by the fitness of the wood. 



Darlingtonia. Sarraceniaceoe. 



Handled by dividing the plants ; also grown from seeds sown in 

 pans on live sphagnum and kept cool and moist in a propagating- 

 box. 



Dasylirion. Liliacece. 



Usually grown from seeds ; suckers and cuttings of branches, 

 when they arise, may also be used. 



Date, Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) . Palmaceoe. 



The seeds from commercial dates grow readily (if they have been 

 properly pollinated) and without stratification. Brief stratification, 

 of four or six weeks, is sometimes employed for the purpose of 

 softening the seed-coats. As a greenhouse subject the date is 

 usually grown from seed. Seedlings are also sometimes employed 

 in commercial plantations, although the sex of the resulting plants 

 cannot be foretold. Seeds are planted in the nursery, and the 

 plants transplanted in one to three years ; or sometimes the seeds 

 are planted in the field where the bearing trees are to stand. A 

 sufficient number of seedlings should be provided so that superfluous 

 males may be eliminated. 



Commercial dates are propagated by suckers that arise about 

 the base of the old trunk. These are preferably handled in pots 

 if taken when the ground is cold, but may be set directly in perma- 

 nent quarters in warm weather, as in spring. The suckers may be 



