Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/95

 DICENTKA DICK 87 tipped with white, and hang in a simple ra- ceme upon a slender drooping scape, rising from the bosom of a set of tender, deeply cut, long-stalked leaves. Both flowers and leaves soon fade away on the approach of summer, and leave, often on the surface of the ground, clusters of little grain-shaped tubers, arranged in the form of scaly bulbs. A second species, called squirrel corn (D. Canadensis, De 0.), has scattered, round, flattened tubers, as large as grains of Indian corn, to the resemblance to which it owes its name. Its flowers are greenish white, tinged with red, and pos- sess the fragrance of hyacinths. It is found in rich woodlands. D. eximia (De C.), found in western New York and among the Alleghanies of Virginia, is larger than the others, with reddish-purple flowers on a com- pound, clustered raceme, and with the lobes of the leaves broadly oblong. D. chrysantha (Hooker and Arnott), a native of California, has large, showy, golden-yellow flowers, leaves Dicentra cucullaria. 2 and 3 pinnately divided, glaucous, with linear, acute segments, and a stem 2 or 3 ft. high, leafy branching. But the most beautiful of all was introduced from Japan in 1846. From thick, brittle, fleshy roots rise early in the spring numerous stout hollow stems about 3 ft. high, bearing large, spreading, deeply divi- ded, compoundly ternate leaves of a glaucous hue, like the tree pceonias, from the axils of which issue strong flower stalks, branching into axillary and smaller racemes, loaded with large, rosy blossoms, each flower being about an inch long. In the early stage of the inflo- rescence the buds have a deeper tint. Several weeks elapse from the commencement of the expansion of the first blossoms until the period of blossoming is over ; but sometimes a few smaller racemes will appear again toward the end of the summer. This is D. spectabilis, pop- ularly called "bleeding heart." Side shoots or cuttings taken off early in spring, and plant- ed out, will flower in August and September ; but for early forcing it is better to put them into pots, and suffer them to ripen away the foliage that has been produced in this condi- Dicentra spectabilis. tion, in preparation for another season, taking due care lest they strike their freely growing root fibres through the bottom of the pots. On the approach of severe frost, the pots should be placed under shelter, or put into the cellar, whence they are to be removed into a warmer atmosphere as they are needed for flowering. For early blossoming parlor plants there are few so easily prepared, or so sure of successful management, or which will so well re- ward any attention. The D. spectabilis thrives in any good soil, but that which is light, rich, and deep suits it best. By a curious error many writers call the plant dielytra. DICK, Thomas, a Scottish author, born near Dundee, Nov. 24, 1774, died at Broughty Ferry, July 29, 1857. He was educated for the min- istry, and was settled at Stirling; but he re- linquished his profession, and for ten years was engaged as a teacher at Perth. "While there he wrote "The Christian Philosopher" (1823), which brought him considerable reputation. From this time he devoted himself to the wri- ting of popular scientific works, which were not a source of much pecuniary profit to their author. He also delivered many popular lec- tures on scientific subjects. His works having had a large sale in the United States, a sub- scription was taken up for his benefit in this country some years before his death, and by this means, and the aid of a small pension from the British government, he was enabled to pass his latter years in comfort. Among his works are: "Philosophy of Religion" (1825), "Im- provement of Society by the Diffusion of Knowledge," " Philosophy of a Future State" (1828), "Mental Illumination of Mankind" (1835), "Celestial Scenery" (1838), "Sidereal Heavens" (1840), and "Telescope and Micro- scope " (1851).