PREFACE 



THIS little book is intended to supply a want, such as I 

 felt keenly myself some fifteen years ago when begin- 

 ning to grow Daffodils in " deadly earnest." Had some 

 such guide been then at hand, I should have been saved 

 considerable expenditure of time, money, and mis- 

 directed energy. 



There is here set down the result of my own personal 

 experience gained in cultivating a large and representa- 

 tive collection of over 200 varieties during many years, 

 also in exhibiting, and of late years judging Daffodils ; 

 with the addition of sundry useful facts and opinions, 

 which I have noted from time to time from various 

 sources. The book has grown out of a Paper on the 

 " Cultivation of the Narcissus in Gardens " read before 

 the Royal Horticultural Society in the year 1900 

 (Journal of R.H.S. Vol. xxv. p. 39). Most of the ad- 

 vice then given is now repeated and brought up to date, 

 but only forms a small part of the whole ; it has been 

 largely supplemented by other matters of Daffodil lore, 

 and it is hoped that the information now gathered to- 

 gether in a handy volume may help the lover of 

 Daffodils, not only to grow good flowers, but also to 

 maintain his collection at a high standard, and generally 

 to hold his own with other Daffodil people. 



I beg to acknowledge thankfully the assistance I have 

 received from 



Mr J. G. Baker's " Amaryllidese." 



Mr F. W. Burbidge's " The Narcissus." 



Mr Barr's little book " Ye Narcissus." 



