Plate 439. 



HYBRID NARCISSI— EMPEROR AND 

 EMPRESS. 



We are indebted to the eminent firm of Backhouse and Son, 

 of York, for figm-ing the two remarkable hybrids in our plate, 

 and for the following information with regard to them : — 



" These two fine hybrid Daffodils were raised by the late 

 William Backhouse, of St. John's, near Wolsingham, a most per- 

 severing and successful amateur cultivator of bulbous plants, to 

 which for nearly or quite twenty years he gave large attention ; 

 they are crosses between Narcissu/i bicolor and Narcustis, pseiido 

 Narcissus, or Narcissus Ajax. These are the finest specimens 

 known, and the children are finer still. It will be seen that 

 the Empress (fig. 1) does not differ materially from its parent 

 Narcissus bicolor, but it is distinct as a seedling, both in con- 

 stitution and in being far finer than its parent ; being of much 

 more vigorous habit, larger in flower, and a more abundant 

 bloomer. The Emperor obviously differs from its parent in the 

 same pai'ticulars, and in having broad yellow petals. In addi- 

 tion to these we have another named Stella, the largest 

 flowered Narcissus in diameter of the Daffodil section that we 

 know, and is very striking ; it is in the style of Narcissus 

 poeticus and Narcissus incomparabilis, but half as large again, and 

 with narrow petals, contrasting beautifully with the broad 

 petals of the Emperor and Empress." 



Considerable interest has been aroused in this class of flowers 

 in consequence of a prize being offered for the best collection of 



