198 



NEW ENGLAND FAlllMER. 



April 



the last of December. This is their season of 

 blossoming. After it is over they should be 

 kept in a cool dry cellar tiU spring. The 

 chrysanthemum is easily raised from suckers, 

 from division of the roots, or from cuttings. 

 It should have a small pot at first, and be set 

 in light, rich soil— loam peat and powdered 

 charcoal. Do this in May, and set the pot 

 among garden flowers. Water it regularly, 

 but not too much. In July the plant will need 

 a larger pot ; and, again, in September, a still 

 larger one. This changing will make it grow 

 stout and bushy, and cause it to bloom abun- 

 dantly ; but be careful not to loosen the soil 

 from the roots when transplanting. Old plants 

 should be taken from their pots early in the 

 spring, all the soil shaken from their roots, 

 and the suckers trimmed off. Set them in 

 fresh soil, mixed as before ; and water them 

 with liquid manure till the foliage is well de- 

 veloped. Then give them the same treatment 

 as young plants, and they will continue stout 

 and healthy many years. Be sure that the pot 

 is not exposed to the scorching heat of the 

 sun. If it cannot be shaded by setting it 

 among bushes in the garden it should be sunk- 

 en in 'the mould, for, although the leaves and 

 branches require a good degree of heat, the 

 roots should be kept cool and always moist, 

 though not too wet. Soap-suds agrees well 

 with the chrysanthemum ; but if that is used 

 m which clothing has been washed, it should 

 be strained, as the lint which it contains is apt 

 to form a crust on the surface of the soil. 



D.usv. This little plant well deserves its 

 botanical name, i.'eZZ/s— pretty,— and its neat 

 tufts of delicate green leaves, surmounted by 

 bright pink blossoms, ought to have a place on 

 evcn-y flower-stand. It grows wild In England 

 and Scotland, but of less handt^ome form and 

 color. Cultivation has given it. the button 

 shape of Its flower, and also its glowing, sun- 

 set hue. Burns often alludes to this "wee, 

 modest, crimson-tipped flower," as he calls it, 

 in his poem to the daisy that he turned down 

 with his plow one dreary April morning; and 

 it has long been a favorite with English poets. 

 Wadsworth dedicated three poems to the daisy ; 

 Spenser sang of the "little dasle that at even- 

 ing doses;" Chaucer called it the "e^e of 

 dale," and "la douce Marguerite;" and Ben 

 Jonson has a friendly word for the '^bright 

 day's eye." Chaucer was very fond of it. In 



his time it was called, as now, in France, Mar- 

 o-uerite ; and considered an emblem of con- 

 stancy in love. He would He for hours upon 

 the grass looking at it, and, dreaming of fair 

 ladies and brave knights, frame his poems of 

 chivalry. 



]\Iany compound flowers— among which is 

 classed the daisy— have their rays in an erect 

 position during the night,— like "the marigold, 

 which goes to bed with the sun, and with him 

 rises weeping." This sleep of the flowers was 

 discovered by Chaucer, in his observation of 

 the habits of the daisy. 



The daisy is generally used In edgings of 

 beds and borders, in England and France; 

 and being very prolific, and blooming early, it 

 is always desirable lor that purpose; the 

 French, because it is in flower about Easter- 

 tlme, sometimes call it ''paquerette' (not so 

 beautiful an appellatlonas "mar^fj/eriVe"- the 

 pearl.) It thrives best In a rich, loamy soil ; 

 and is propagated by off'-sets, or division of 

 the roots. Fill a small pot with a mixture of 

 sandy loam and peat, and in this set the young 

 plant, pressing the soil finnly about the neck, 

 water it to settle the earth well, and shake the 

 pot for the same effect ; and if the soil has fall- 

 en away from the plant, add a little more. 

 This should be done in May, and the pot kept 

 in an airy, cool place, and watered occasion- 

 ally—just" enough to keep it from getting dry- 

 till the first of October. Then, set it among 

 your parlor plants, letting It have a front place 

 at the window ; as it will need the sunshine to 

 bring forward the flowers, which will be has- 

 tened, If liquid manure be given it. Every 

 sprmg the daisy needs re-potting, and should 

 have^Its roots' divided. It will bear trans- 

 planting, even when In bloom, If the soil is not 

 entirely detached from the root. 



Daphne. This is the Greek name for the 

 laurel-tree, which it resembles ; and which was 

 so called in honor of n beautiful mmph, the 

 daughter of a river-god. According to an- 

 cient mythology she was beloved by Apollo, 

 but she rejected his suit and delerminid to es- 

 cape him. Frajlng for aid, she was mclamor- 

 phoscd into a laurel ; which became, in conse- 

 (pience, the favorite tree of ApoHo. D. odo- 

 rata, (erroneously styled D. odora) is the 

 species generally knownasafne window-plant. 

 It has dark, glossy, laurel-like leaves; and 

 very fragrant, wax-like flowers of peai 1, or rosy 



