THE 3fEZERE0N. 143 



stocks and put on the grafts is easy work^ and the great 

 point is to have nice quarters ready to promote the junction 

 and tlie growing. The Pontic Daphne {B. Voiitica) is 

 but a form of the Lnst, with lighter-c()]oured foliage and 

 iater flowers. It is also employed as a stock for grafting. 

 It should not be omitted to slate that the mezereou is 

 also valued as a stock, but D. laitreoln is Ike plant for the 

 j)urp)ose. 



The better class of daphnes comprise I), uljthni, a 

 pretty shrub for the rockery, with white or rosy flowers ; 

 U. collhia, a smallish arboretum or rockery shrub, with 

 blush or pink-tinted flowers; and I), meonnii, a half- 

 trailing shrub, jDossessing the finest qualities, and much to 

 be desired in every well-kept garden. It is a true ever- 

 green (if neat growth, producing lovely rosj^ flowers, 

 that are exquisitely fragrant early in the spring. For tlie 

 dressed grounds this is a foreground gem, and hardy 

 enough for any g\iod garden south of the Trent, and for 

 any garden north of th i Trent if on the west of the great 

 backbone that divides the hard from the soft climates of 

 England. 



Amongst the greenhouse daphnes the most important 

 is the sweet I), odora, of which there are several varieties, 

 pink, white, and variegated-leaved. J). IiuJ/ca, with white 

 flowers, B. jiiponicK, with pink flowers, and B. Blagaijauiiiii , 

 with yellow flowers, are W(jrthy of attention. In j'kaces 

 specially favoured by climatal conditions B. odora is hardy, 

 and one of the finest out-door shrubs in the worlcT. But 

 generally speaking it is not hardy, and needs the shelter 

 of glass. 



It is better for the amateur to buy than to propagate 

 daphnes. The seed requires two years to germinate under 



