38 PERENNIALS. [March. 
plants become large, they ought to be divided , and planted in 
fresh soil. They are in bloom from May to September. 
Didnthus. Some of the species of this genus are tbe 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 cerebrated Pink and Carnation, with 
the Sweet William, which was esteemed in tbe days of old 
"for its beauty to deck up the bosoms of the beautiful, and 
garlands and crowns for pleasure." The finest species are 
D. barbdtus and D. barbdtus pleno, Sweet William ; D. 
discolor; D. chinensis ; D. aljiinns ; D. sujierbus ; D. 
caryophyllus, from which have originated the Picotee and 
the Carnation; D. plumdrius, from wbich 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 May. 
Dictdmnus. Two species of this genus, D. fraxlnella and 
D. dlbus, 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 odour 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 colour, that exude a viscid juice, or resin, which 
exhales in vapour, 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 five petals, clawed and 
unequal, with glandular dots ; in bloom from May to July ; 
delights in sandy loam. 
Dodecdtheon. This is a native genus, and commonly 
called American cowslip. The generic term, a name of the 
Romans, signifying twelve gods or divinities, is applied with 
great absurdity to a plant, a native of a world the Romans 
never saw nor had any idea of; neither resembling in any par- 
ticular the poetical fancy of their writers. The most admired 
species is I). mhh'a ; the flowers are in umbels, on a pedicle, 
from six to twelve inches high ; the corolla is rotata reflexa ; 
colour 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 
