MARCH 53 



of Pleasant Flowers/' the Incomparable Daffodil, or None 

 Such, which, he says, " hath three or four long broad leaves, 

 of a greyish greene colour, among which riseth up a stalk two 

 feet high at the least, at the toppe whereof, out of a thinner 

 skinnie huske, as all daffodils have, cometh forth one large, 

 single flower and no more, usually consisting of sixe very 

 pale yellow leaves, almost round at the point, with a large 

 cup in the middle, somewhat yellower than the leaves, the 

 bottome whereof next the stock is narrow and round, rising 

 wider to the mouth, which is very large and open and un- 

 evenly cut or indented about the edges. The cuppe doth 

 resemble the chalice, that in former days with us, and beyond 

 the seas is still used to hold the Sacramentall wine, that is, 

 with a narrower bottome and a wide mouth. . . . The flowers 

 have no scent at all." Gerard gives a list of their supposed 

 virtues ; but Parkinson says : " Howsoever . . . others do 

 give unto some of them speciall properties, both for inward 

 and outward diseases, yet know I not any in these days 

 with us that apply any of them as a remedy for any grief." 



" Daffodils are the hardiest, showiest, and most variable 

 of early Spring flowers. . . . No good garden should be 

 without the best of the lovely varieties now grown." These 

 are the words used by the author of " The English Flower 

 Garden," and with a little care the smallest garden with them 

 may be made beautiful when flowers are limited. Among the 

 newer sorts of daffodils surely lovelier flowers were never seen 

 than "The Duchess of Westminster," " Mrs. J. M. B. Camm," 

 and " Victoria," beautiful bi-colours, with large white perianths, 

 and yellow or cream-coloured trumpets, or the pretty Hoop 

 Petticoat, and the trumpet daffodil, which looks so at home when 

 planted so as to become naturalised in the grass or woods. 



