i 7 8 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



of each lobe. On these being touched, say by a fly, movement at once takes place 

 and the insect is caught, held, and absorbed. Dionrea are raised from seed similarly 

 to darlingtonia (which see), and also by division in March or April. Use well-drained 

 pots, and equal parts of chopped living sphagnum, peat, and potsherds. Set the pots 

 containing the plants in pans, kept constantly filled with water, near to the glass in 

 either a greenhouse or frame. 



diosma. — This genus from South Africa is remarkable for the fragrance of the very 

 small leaves when slightly rubbed or bruised, and for this principally two species are 

 cultivated, namely, D. ericoides and D. vulgaris (syn. D. gracilis). Both attain a height 

 of from 1 foot to 3 feet. Diosmas are easily propagated. From March till June 

 cuttings may be inserted in sandy peat, under a bell-glass and rooted in a temperature 

 of 55° to 00°. Place the young plants singly in thumb pots and arrange on green- 

 house shelves. Top to make them bushy, and gradually shift into larger pots, using 

 a mixture of two parts fibrous peat to one of loam, adding sharp sand and potting firmly. 

 Avoid over-watering in the winter. 



diplacus. — This may be briefly described as a woody species of mimulus. The 

 original is D. glutinosus, a branching shrub from California, and well worthy of 

 general cultivation. It has glutinous or sticky leaves, and is almost continuous in 

 flowering. Colour buff or salmon. From this species hybrids have been raised of 

 much the same character, and there is also an orange-red form, D. g. puniceus. 

 Propagation is effected by cuttings of young shoots 2 inches long, inserted in sandy 

 peat, and covered with glass, in a temperature of about 65°. Young plants should 

 bo placed singly in 2|-inch pots, and given a good start in gentle heat. Gradually 

 shift into larger sizes, using a compost of two parts fibrous loam to one part of leaf 

 soil, adding fine, well-decayed manure and sand. Stake, and allow the plants to branch 

 naturally, or train the growths loosely over a light balloon-shaped trellis. Prune 

 freely in February, and re-pot when fresh growth commences. Diplacus can be grown 

 in a cool airy greenhouse all the year round, but the plants may be stood in the open 

 air after flowering till the autumn. 



dracophyllum. — D. gracile from "West Australia must be included among those 

 greenhouse plants which are not often met with nowadays, owing to their being of 

 comparatively slow growth and difficult to cultivate. "Well grown and properly trained 

 into a neat globular head with the aid of a few neat green painted sticks and strong 

 thread, D. gracile carries weight as an early summer exhibition plant. It is of a loose 



