202 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



Narcissus. Of all bulbs probably those of the genus narcissus are 

 most abundant in California gardens and give amateurs most pleasure. 

 Daffodils of all sorts, China lilies, jonquils and those which use the 

 family name as poet's narcissus, trumpet narcissus, etc. all belong to 

 the botanic genus, narcissus. They come from all parts of the earth 

 and they are all at home in the California winter. They thrive with 

 the most ordinary care and culture and show a disposition to run wild 

 in the fields, as the bulbs chance to go with garden rubbish. They 

 have a long blooming season, for the natural habits of the varieties 

 differ; there is much length to the planting season and the haste of 

 the flower after planting is determined by local soils and exposures. 

 Certainly one could have daffodils for nearly if not quite half the year 

 if he should distribute varieties and planting dates and use both warm 

 hillsides and cool bottoms for his venture. 



Narcissus varieties accept natural soil conditions in all parts of 

 California, but their growth is enlarged by generous manuring. As 

 their activity covers the rainy season, they seldom need irrigation 

 unless it be to facilitate planting in September, or to awaken the old 

 bulbs for early flowering, when fall rains are delayed. Cultivation 

 helps them also and it is at least kind to mulch the soil with the dried 

 top-growth, after it dies down, or to otherwise check the baking of the 

 ground as described on page 189. But they will not resent neglect, but 

 will break through hard ground and, if the following year is one of 

 abundant rains, will apparently forget all hardship. The bulbs need 

 not be taken up, although they are not disturbed by it as lilies are apt 

 to be; they can be left in the soil for several years together, always 

 making new bulbs until the clump is so compacted that the bulbs 

 become flattened like chestnuts in the burr. The clump should be 

 lifted and the bulbs reset on new ground, or on the old ground well 

 manured, before such extremity is reached. 



Of the narcissus family, Narcissus polyanthus, or bunch-flowering 

 narcissus, are very early, and some of them-can be had in bloom by 

 Christmas if planted in September and kept watered. Some of the 

 most popular of the bunch-flowering are the Paper White, the Chinese 

 Sacred Lily, the double Roman, Grand Monarque and others. Prob- 

 ably the trumpet daffodils are the most popular of the narcissus family, 

 and they are individually most beautiful and produce the most striking 

 mass-effects in growth and for decoration. They come later than the 

 bunch narcissus; most of them produce only one flower to the stem. 

 The striking size and coloration of the trumpet group is a notable 

 achievement. Jonquils are excellent for bedding purposes. They 

 require very little care and succeed well in any fair soil. They are 

 sweet scented and give general satisfaction. 



Of varieties the bulb dealers are always presenting something new 

 and interesting, and at the same time somewhat baffling to the be- 



