IRISH GARDENING 



\'Ol.l'.MK \'U. 

 No. 70 



A MON rHI.V JOl RNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



SKI'TKMBKR 

 1913 



Narcissi 



liOV A 

 OAI 



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\IU ISSI, or OafTodils as they are 

 i.onimoiil_v calletl, have been 1^ iin\ 11 

 in i^arileiis as far back as there are 

 records o\ !,Mrden phints, but never at anv 

 period ol' iheir history lia\e tiiey been cullivatetl 

 with more inteliii^ence and enthusiasm tiian at 

 present. The area devoted to the ciiitivat'on 

 of this bulb in Great Britain and Ireland is 

 annually being extended, while the number of 

 blooms that are offered for sale in our markets 

 from January to May would almost baffle the 

 skill of a statistician. The R.H.S. of lingland 

 have a special committee to look after the 

 Narcissus in conjunction willi the Tulip ; the 

 only other flower which is taken specially 

 untler the fostering wing of the premier 

 horticultural society is the Orchid, so the 

 Narcissus may feel proud of being bracketed 

 with an aristocrat like the Orchid, although I 

 am not prepared to admit that the honour is 

 all on the side of the Narcissus, as some of the 

 newer forms rival the Orchid in brilliancy oi' 

 colour and grace of form. 



During the past twenty or twenty-fi\e years 

 great improvements have been effected in this 

 family by hybridization, and every year new 

 varieties are being sent out, some of them of 

 considerable merit, while others have really 

 nothing to recomnieni.1 them bevonil I he skill 

 of their raisers in dressing — or rather faking — 

 them, and placing them before an unsuspecting 

 public. 



Generallj^ speaking, the Narcissus is an 

 easy plant to cultivate, but there are a few 

 •y^i outstanding exceptions, notably in the ajax 

 ^ section, which makes it impossible to dogma- 

 tize, and say do this or don't do that, but, 

 most of the varieties like a fairly rich friable 

 loam, and respond to deep cultivation. On no 

 account however should the ground be treated 



to an application of fresh farmyard manure 

 before planting. Some growers use bonemeal 

 and basic slag, but not ha\ ing tried either, I 

 can't write of their elVect. 1 believe, however, 

 that the best (lowers ami bulbs will be got on 

 ground that was liberally treated with farm- 

 yard manure, />/itx a complete artificial fertilizer, 

 composed of superphosphate, .inimonia and 

 potash for the previous crop. 



The bulbs have a very short period of rest, 

 particularl)- those with poeticus blood in them, 

 so they should be kept out of the groimd as 

 short a time as possible. Some experts give 

 August 20th as the latest date by which choice 

 Oallodil bulbs should be in the ground, but if 

 plaiUeil by tlie second week in September, 

 excellent results will be obtained. The bad 

 effect of late planting is more manifest the 

 second season than the first ; with the curtailed 

 season of growth the bulb suflers, the result 

 being that the foliage and flower stalk are 

 shorter, and the increase ncit nearlv so gimil, 

 which is a \ery important matter, particularly 

 with expensive sorts. In the selection o( 

 varieties a good deal depends on the purpose 

 for which they are wanted. If for exhibition 

 llowers of good size, form, substance, and 

 coloitr .are essentiiil, while for ilecoration, 

 lighter :uul thinner, or what might be called 

 wingy llowers are more etVective. Likewise 

 for hybridizing, sure seeders and potent pollen 

 sorts only should be stocked. Then, ag.iin, 

 some varieties that are strong and vigorous, 

 and in every way excellent g.irden plruils, will 

 not force or come so weak when subjected to 

 heat, as to be practically worthless. To give a 

 concrete example o( what is meant, I may say 

 that I am frequently asked the diHerence 

 between two very-much-alike old standard 

 varieties- -viz.. Empress and Horsfieldii. My 



