*THE BOOK OF THE DAFFODIL. 

 CHAPTER I. 



THE DAFFODIL, A MUCH VALUED FLOWER. 



..." The Narcissus wondrously glittering, a noble sight for all, 

 whether immortal Gods, or mortal men ; from whose root a hundred 

 heads spring forth, and at the fragrant odour [thereof] all the broad 

 heaven above, and all the earth laughed, and the salt- wave of the sea." 



" HYMN TO DEMETER." 



" Fed of heavenly dew the Narcissus blooms morn by morn with 

 fair clusters, crown of the great goddesses from of yore." 



" (Eoipus AT COLONUS " SophocltJ. 



IT is a flower we cannot do without, this Daffodil or 

 Narcissus. Whether after the popular manner we adopt 

 the prettier and more easily pronounced word and call 

 it "Daffodil" (though "Daffodil " is really only a sec- 

 tional name), or whether with more scientific people we 

 keep to the well-established name of the genus and speak 

 of it as the Narcissus, it is a plant which the ardent 

 gardener feels he must grow as soon as he sees it in 

 some of its finer forms. 



It is a plant which has asserted itself much of late, 

 and with good reason. Its numerous varieties supply 

 a very real need in our gardens, and occupy a prominent 

 position in the year's procession of beautiful flowers. 

 Growing hardily in the open ground, they delight us at 

 a time when cut flowers from the open border are very 

 scarce ; many of them rival in beauty the choicest trea- 

 sures of the greenhouse and hot-house ; with accom- 



