DEC 
ELZE 
densely sliaded places, are favorites in 
most gardens. The spurge laurel (Z>. 
laureola ) is an excellent plant for filling 
the fronts of shrubberies, as it has rich 
velvety evergreen foliage and never be¬ 
comes bare at the bottom. D. cneorum 
and D. mezereon are both distinguished 
by their handsome flowers of a deep pink, 
the first is a very dwarf plant, suitable 
for the front rank of American beds, the 
other grows from two to three feet high, 
and its branches are clothed with flowers 
at an early period in spring; the spe¬ 
cies colinci, and its variety neapolitana, 
have purple flowers, but they are small 
and inferior to the preceding. All of 
them prefer a moist peaty soil, and re¬ 
quire little or no pruning; they are pro¬ 
pagated by layers or suckers, and a few 
of the rarer kinds by grafting upon the 
spurge laurel, in doing which it is essen¬ 
tial to draw the earth above the point of 
union, and to keep the plants covered 
and closely shaded till the scion has taken 
hold. The mezereon and spurge laurel 
are both natives of Britain. 
DECUMABIA (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
PhiladelphacecB. Two of the species are 
ornamental deciduous twiners, with small 
white flowers, and the third {D. prostrata) 
is a trailer. They grow anywdiere, and are 
increased by layers or cuttings struck 
under a glass. 
DEUTZIA (Thunberg.) Nat. Ord. 
Philadelpliacece , These beautiful shrubs 
are alike remarkable for their compact 
habit of growth, rich, deep green persist¬ 
ent folinge, and numerous white, bell¬ 
shaped flowers, which are fragrant. 
Either for beds, borders, or as single 
plants on the lawn, both the species are 
most efficient subjects, and they may also 
be potted and forced at a very early pe¬ 
riod into bloom. They delight in a soil 
composed of peat and loam, and may be 
increased by layers or seed. Detitzia 
scabra produces seed plentifully, but of 
the more recent species, D. staminea , we 
have no knowledge in this respect; it, 
however, may be struck from cuttings 
placed on a little heat. 
DIEEYILLA (Tournefort.) Nat. 
Ord. Caprifoliacece. A desirable dwarf 
shrub, with yellow flowers which open in 
spring. The only species, D. flava , is 
allied to the honeysuckle, and is suitable 
for the fronts of shrubberies. It grows 
in common soil, and may be multiplied by 
cuttings or layers. 
DIOSPYilOS, Date Plum (Linn.) 
Nat. Ord. Putaceae. There are three 
species of this genus which are suffi¬ 
ciently robust to bear our climate. D. 
lotus is a native of Italy, and produces a 
fruit which was supposed to cause obli¬ 
vion ; it is about the size of a cherry, 
yellow when ripe, sweet and astringent; 
the other two are derived from North 
America. D. Virginiana has a white, 
brittle wood, and fruit like the ordinary 
date, and almost its equal in flavour. D. 
pubescens is inferior in the latter respect. 
All of them form handsome trees about 
twenty feet in height, and succeed in 
loam of a sandy nature. The first is usu¬ 
ally cultivated by layers, and the others 
by seed or cuttings. 
DIBCA, Leatlierwood (Linn.) Nat. 
Ord. Thymelacece. A pretty dwarf shrub, 
with yellow flowers; it was obtained 
from the swampy marshes of North 
America, and with us succeeds either in 
a peat soil or sandy loam, and is propa¬ 
gated by layers or seeds. The young 
twigs are remarkably tough, and hence 
its English name ; in its native country 
it is used for basket-work. D. palustris 
is the only species. 
DRYPIS (Linn.) Nat. Ord. Silena- 
cem. A beautiful little trailing plant, 
suitable for ornamenting rockwork, in 
which situation it produces its pale pur¬ 
ple, starry flowers in great abundance. 
It grows best in peat and loam, and 
should be propagated by cuttings, a stock 
being secured each season, as it is some¬ 
what short-lived. D. spinosa is the only 
species. 
ELZEAGNUS, Oleaster (Linn.) Nat. 
Ord. PAceagnacea. There are three spe¬ 
cies of Oleaster, hardy in our climate; 
they are ornamental, rather tall trees, 
with lanceolate, silvery-looking leaves, 
closely resembling in general appearance 
the olive; they are apetalous, but some¬ 
times produce thin, large, green fruit, 
which is eaten in the countries whence 
