DESCRIPTIVE AND SELECTIVE. 217 



able variety of plants. They make neat clumps and 

 bloom profusely. They thrive in ordinary soil, if not 

 dry, and are easily propagated by division after 

 flowering. The best known species is perennis, but 

 the flower-lover should get good varieties, such as Rob 

 Roy J crimson; Bridesmaid, rose; Snow flake, white; 

 and Alice, light pink. He might also grow the curious 

 and pretty Hen-and-chickens. 



DAFFODIL.—See Chapter IX. 



DAPHNE. — ^The Daphnes are shrubs, but in some 

 species so small as to be suitable even for a small rockery. 

 They are neat, close growers, and in most cases 

 deliciously sweet. They are not fastidious as to soil, 

 thriving in gritty loam. They may be planted in 

 autumn, and will give flowers before the spring opens. 

 They can be propagated by seeds, but the process is 

 slow, and it is preferable to take cuttings in autumn, 

 and put them under a bell glass in a greenhouse. If 

 they do not go away quickly in spring they can be 

 accelerated with heat. They should be planted out 

 as soon as they are nicely established, and should be 

 given a sheltered place. 



The following are the best Daphnes : Alpina (candidd) 

 a European Alpine, has creamy-white flowers in spring, 

 and comes into full leaf in summer. It bears red 

 berries in autumn. It is a lime-lover, and grows about 

 two feet high. Blagayana is a low Alpine trailer, 

 rarely growing more than a foot high. It bears 

 fragrant white flowers in spring. Its habit furthers 

 propagation by layering, which is effected by pegging 

 the shoots down in spring, notching them, and separa- 



