38 



PERENNIALS. 



IMarch. 



plants become large, they ouglit to be divided, and planted 

 in fresh soil. The;^ are in bloom from May to September. 



Didnthus. Some of the species of this genus are the most 

 prominent of the flower garden, not only for their beauty^ 

 but also their fragrance, which is peculiarly grateful^ especially 

 in the well-known and celebrated Pink and Carnation, with 

 the Sweet William, which was esteemed in the days of ol(J 

 ^^for its beauty to deck up the bosoms of the beautiful, and 

 garlands and crowns for pleasure/^ The finest species are 

 I), harhdtus and D, harbdtus plhiOy Sweet William; D, 

 discolor; D. chlnensis ; D. alpinus; D. superbiis ; D. 

 caryojpliylluSj from which have originated the Picotee and 

 the Carnation ; B. plumdrlus] from which originated the 

 Double Pink. Several of these, although they will stand 

 the severest cold, have to be protected in frames during 

 winter, to have them in the perfection of beauty. For the 

 character of a Pink and Carnation, see Mai/. 



Dlctdmnus. Two species of this genus, D. fraxinella and 

 D. dlhitSj have been cultivated and esteemed upwards of two 

 hundred and forty years. A plant of the first of these spe- 

 cies, when gently rubbed, emits an odor like that of lemon- 

 peel; and when bruised emits a balsamic scent, which is 

 strongest in the pedicles of the flowers. They have glands 

 of a rusty color, that exude a viscid juice, or resin, which 

 exhales in vapor, and in a dark place may be seen to take 

 fire. Its flowers are red, those of the other white, in 

 loose terminal spikes; the flower has flve petals, clawed 

 and unequal, with glandular dots ; in bloom from May to 

 July; delights in sandy loam. 



JDodecdtheon. This is a native genus, and commonly 

 called American cowslip. The generic term, a name of the 

 Eomans, signifying twelve gods or divinities, is applied with 

 great absurdity to a plant, a native of a world the Romans 

 never saw nor load any idea of; neither resembling in any par- 

 ticular the poetical fancy of their writers. The most admired 

 species is I), media; the flowers are in umbels, on a pedicle, 

 from six to twelve inches high ; the corolla is rotata reflexa, 

 color light purple, bottom of petals lake and yellow; bloom- 

 ing in May. The white variety is very much esteemed, and 

 surpasses the preceding. The ground is pure white, the 

 bottom of the petals the same as the other. There is also 

 a spotted variety found on the banks of the Missouri. They 



