i86 PLANT CULTURE 



ing a lighted match near them on a still Summer eve will cause a 

 flash. 



Propagation. They are more easily propagated from seeds 

 than by division. Sow seeds in Fall as soon as they ripen. 



DIGITALIS (Foxglove. Witches' Thimbles). One of the 



most stately of hardy perennials. The flowers are large and bell- 

 shaped, being arranged in very long racemes. D. purpurea is usually 

 treated as a biennial. It is excellent for hardy borders, giving an 

 appearance of strength to the usual rambling lines. The color is 

 usually rose and white. 



Propagation. Plants are easily raised from seeds. 



DODECATHEON (Shooting Star. American Cowslip). 



D. Meadia grows in shaded positions, but it makes most of its growth 

 while the surrounding trees are leafless. It has stems 2 feet long 

 with Cyclamen-shaped flowers. The stamens come to a sharp 

 point and seem to be shooting ahead, while the petals fall behind 

 like the tail of a comet. D. Clevelandii and D. Hendersonii are 

 Californian species of great beauty. The soil is composed largely 

 of vegetable humus. Most of the species thrive well, but are not 

 much grown in gardens; this is probably because their period of 

 bloom is short and the plants are apt to be lost sight of and neglected 

 when out of bloom. 



Propagation. The seeds should be sown in places where they 

 can remain undisturbed for at least a year, as after germinating 

 httle progress is made the first season beyond the formation of a 

 root stock. They can also be propagated by division, which is the 

 faster method. 



DORONICUM (Leopard's Bane). The Doronicums are useful 

 plants, with yellow, Daisy-like flowers, blooming in i\Iay. D. 

 planlagincum excelsum is one of the best. Other good kinds are 

 D. auslriacum, D. caitcasicum and D. Pardalianches. The plants 

 are of easy culture in rich loam, the flowers being excellent for 

 cutting. 



Propagation. They should be increased by division in the FaU. 



DUCHESNEA (Fragaria. Rock Strawberry). The flowers 

 of Duchesnea indica (F. indica) are bright yellow. The fruit is dark 

 red and produced all through the Summer and early Fall months. 

 It is useful as a basket-plant or as a low ground cover. The flowers 

 ■are solitary on the runners. 



Propagation. Increased by roots formed b>- the runners. 



