CHAPTER XIII. 



CERTIFICATED AND OTHER FINE VARIETIES. 



ANY enthusiastic flower-lover who has been wise enough 

 to become a Fellow of that good old corporation, the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, will know by experience 

 how much help is to be gained (whatever his particular 

 hobby may be) by such membership, both through the 

 opportunities the Society affords of examining new plants 

 and flowers at its fortnightly meetings, by the information 

 given in its most valuable " Journal," and by the labours 

 of its Committees, not to mention the other privileges of 

 its Fellows. 



The Daffodil grower is no exception to the rule, and 

 he needs such help at least as much as any other kind of 

 flower-lover. For the number of new and beautiful 

 varieties which have been introduced since the Daffodil 

 Conference in 1884 is so bewildering, and the consequent 

 need of a reliable guide so great, that the fostering and 

 directing hand of the old Society is nowhere perhaps 

 more necessary than in connection with Daffodil culture. 



It is through its Narcissus Committee that much of the 

 needed assistance is given. The Narcissus Committee 

 has passed through various phases and performed various 

 functions, but its chief work at the present time seems 

 to be to give information as to any Daffodils which may 

 be sent to it for identification or other advice, and to help 

 the public further, in a more general but very important 

 manner, by distinguishing, through the certificates it 

 grants, particularly meritorious varieties presented at its 

 meetings. 



