scented. This is a native of Spain, Italy, and the South of France: it will sometimes flower twice in the year. Gerarde gives this shrub the name of Mountain Widowwayle. It may be treated in the same manner as the Silvery-leaved.

An excellent writing-paper is made from a tree of this genus, called the Daphne Cannabina, a native of CochinChina. There is another, called the Lace-bark Daphne, of which the inner bark is of such a texture, that it may be drawn out in long webs like lace, and has been actually worn as such. Charles the Second had a cravat made of it, which was presented to him by Sir Thomas Lynch when governor of Jamaica. It is there principally used for ropes. This tree is a native of Jamaica, where it is called Lagetto, or Lace-bark-tree; and of Hispaniola, where it is known by the name of Bois-dentelle [Lacewood]. It will not thrive in England, except in a stove. But this latter plant is now removed by Lamarcke, and forms a separate genus, Lagetta, which is placed by him, even in another family, the Eleagneæ.

APOCINEÆ.

DOG'S-BANE.

APOCYNUM.

PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA.

So named from a notion that it is fatal to dogs.

THE Tutsan-leaved Dog's-bane is an extremely curious plant: the flowers are white, or pale red; bell-shaped, and the anthers are so constituted within it, as to entangle the flies who are attracted by the honey-juice it contains: so that in August, when in full flower, it is usually found

full of their dead bodies. The French, in Canada, call it Herbe-à-la-puce [Fleawort], and say it is noxious to some persons, though harmless to others. Mr. Martyn quotes an author (Kalm) who mentions having seen a soldier whose hands were blistered all over merely from plucking it; whereas he frequently rubbed his own hands with the juice without feeling any inconvenience.

Mr. Lambert, in his Travels in Canada and the United States, affirms that he has seen several persons who have been confined to the house in consequence of having been poisoned in the woods by this plant, and that even the merely treading on it is sufficient to create swellings and inflammations: "and yet," continues he, "I have seen other people handle it with safety; and have myself often pulled it up by the root, broke the stem, and covered my hands with the milky juice which it contains, without experiencing any disagreeable effect. What property it is in the constitution of people which thus imbibes or repels) the poisonous qualities of this plant, I have never been able to learn, nor can I from observation account for it.

"Many gardens in Lower Canada are full of Dog'sbane, which occasions it to be considered there as a weed. The roots appear to spread under ground to a considerable extent; and though the plant may be cut off every year, it springs up again in another place. It makes its appearance about the end of May, and runs up like the scarlet-beans, entwining itself round any tree, plant, or paling that stands in its way; and if there is nothing else upon which the young shoots can support themselves, they adhere to each other. Their leaves and stems are of a light green, and they are in full flower in July. Wherever the Herbe-à-la-puce grows, there is always to be found a great number of lady-flies [coccinella]. They are covered with a brilliant gold as long as they are on

the leaf, or retain any particle of its juice. I caught some of them, and put them into a phial; but neglecting to add some leaves of the Herbe-à-la-puce, they had by the next morning lost their splendid coat, and merely resembled the common red lady-fly which we have in England. I then caught a few more, and having supplied them well with the leaves of that plant, they retained their gold tinge equally as well as in the open air. In a few days they had reduced the leaves to mere skeletons, but as long as there remained a morsel of the stalks or fibres to feed upon, their beautiful appearance continued. I kept them upwards of a month in this manner; giving them occasionally fresh leaves of the plant, and admitting the air through some holes that I pricked in the paper with which I had covered the mouth of the phial. They would feed upon no other plant than the Herbe-à-la-puce, from which alone they derived their beauty. I afterwards gave them their liberty, and they flew away apparently little the worse for their confinement*.

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The Tutsan-leaved, the St. John's-wort-leaved, and the Spear-leaved kinds will bear the open air, if not exposed to too much wet; which, as they are very succulent, would rot them. They may be increased by parting the roots, which should be done in March.

Hemp Dog's-bane, a native of North America, is used by the Indians for various purposes: they prepare the stalks as we do hemp, and make twine, fishing-nets and lines, bags, and linen of them. According to Kalm, this is the species which the Canadians call Herbe-à-la-puce.

In Mrs. Charlotte Smith's Conversations are some lines upon the fate of a poor fly, lured to its prison by the deceitful sweetness of the Apocynum.

* Lambert's Travels through Canada, &c. vol. i.

p. 435.

DRAGON'S-HEAD.

DRACOCEPHALUM.

LABIATE.

DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA.

So named from the form of the flower, which resembles a gaping mouth.

THE Moldavian Dragon's-head, commonly called Moldavian Balm-in French, la melisse de Moldavie; la Moldavique; la melisse des Turcs [Turk's balm]-is an annual plant with blue flowers, which appear in July, and continue till the middle of August. It has a strong scent, which to some persons is very agreeable. The seeds of this, and of the other annual kinds, may be sown either in March or September, in small pots, one seed in each, or several in a larger pot, and thinned as they may require it when they come up. Some kinds are more branched than others.

Balm of Gilead is a perennial plant, a native of the Canary Islands: it has blue or flesh-coloured flowers, continuing from July to September. It is called Balm of Gilead from its fine odour when rubbed. The old writers call it Camphorosma, and Cedronella, upon the same account. It should be sown in September, and kept in the house during the winter. When grown, it will require shelter from frost only; but when first sown, should be treated rather more tenderly. It may also be increased by cuttings, which, planted in any of the summer months, and placed in the shade, will soon take root.

The Virginian Dragon's-head-named by the French, la cataleptique; l'herbe aux paralitiques, from its use in palsy and similar diseases—is a native of North America: it has purple flowers, blowing from July to September. This species requires a moist soil, and should have more

water than the others. It may be increased by parting the roots in autumn.

The Austrian species is very handsome: the flowers are violet-coloured. The Hyssop-leaved, a native of Norway, Siberia, &c. has blue flowers, blowing in June.

The Siberian kind has pale blue flowers. The three last-mentioned species should be sown towards the end of March: when about two inches high, they should be removed from where they were first sown into separate pots, about eight inches wide: this should be done carefully, without removing the ball of earth attached to them, and they should be placed in the shade until they have taken new root. They will last three or four years, sometimes longer; but will not flower well after that age. They should all be kept tolerably moist, particularly when newly planted. The Balm of Gilead is the only kind that requires shelter in the winter.

1

DRYAS.

ROSACEA.

ICOSANDRIA POLYGYNIA.

So called by Linnæus from the Dryades, or nymphs of the oaks: the leaves bearing some resemblance to those of the oak.

THE Five-petaled Dryas is a native of Siberia: it is a very small plant, bearing yellow flowers. The Eightpetaled species is a delicate little evergreen, with snowwhite blossoms, and extremely pretty: it is a native of Lapland, Denmark, Siberia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, &c. Thus, like Homer, it may boast that at least seven different places claim the honour of its birth. It is a perennial plant, and will not suffer from cold. earth should be kept moderately moist. It flowers in June.

The