42 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



contains varieties with SMALL CROWNS, such as the 

 Poet's Narcissus, and it is known as the Parvi-coronati 

 section. 



Hybridisation and repeated cross fertilisation have 

 broken down the dividing lines of these three groups 

 during recent years and made it no easy task for 

 competitors on the one hand and judges on the other 

 to decide where one group ends and another begins. 

 A strong combination, like the Midland Daffodil Society, 

 might have decided into which of the three groups any 

 doubtful varieties should be placed for exhibition 

 purposes. This would be an arbitrary method of deal- 

 ing with the matter, but something of the kind must be 

 done if distinctions based on the relative size of crown 

 and perianth are to be observed. The Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society, through its Daffodil Committee, is now 

 dealing with the subject and a New Classification is to 

 be issued soon. 



Merits. Size ; purity or brilliance of colouring ; 

 perfectly developed trumpet or crown and perianth ; 

 absence of rain stains, of sun-burn or bleaching ; fresh- 

 ness ; substance ; stiff, stout stems ; arrangement of the 

 flowers to set each bloom off to the fullest advantage. 



Faults. Malformation ; lack of size, Colour, and sub- 

 stance ; bleached tips or margin caused by bright sun- 

 shine and cold winds ; short stems ; inharmonious 

 arrangement of colours in a collection. 



Hints. In a collection of distinct varieties separate 

 the most brilliant as far as possible, and place them in 

 close contrast with white, bicolour, or pale yellow 

 varieties. Red and orange cupped varieties are par- 

 ticularly effective and should be made full use of. 

 If the flowers are cut when the bud shows colour they 

 will open well in water and can be hastened in a warm 

 greenhouse or delayed in a cool dark room. It is not 

 difficult to keep a flower for a fortnight if cut in the 



