28 Commercial Gardening 



INTRODUCTION TO GREENHOUSE. Planted within the already prescribed 

 limits the varieties may be introduced to the greenhouse in the following 

 order: Major (French grown), first week of November; Ard Righ, Golden 

 Spur, Obvallaris, Henry Irving; and double daffs (N. telamonius plenus), 

 second to third week of November; Princeps, end of November; Victoria, 

 Horsjieldi, Empress, mid-December and later; Ornatus, at the end of the 

 year; with Emperor and Sir Wat kin among others, a little later on. A 

 point to remember in this connection is that an early-flowering variety in 

 the open is not necessarily early or even proportionately so when grown 

 under glass. Soils and localities, however, exercise such an influence that 

 the writer is precluded from entering into minute details through lack of 

 space, but having laid the foundation the intelligent operator will find it 

 easy to raise up the superstructure. 



GENERAL TREATMENT INDOORS. At this stage a few negatives may be 

 helpful. Here they are. Don't be in a hurry. Don't think you can force 

 a daffodil against its will. Don't burn so many tons of coke or coal without 

 occasion, for, paradoxical as it may seem, undue heat too early applied exer- 

 cises a retarding influence on the crop, and a much later introduced batch 

 of the same variety, more rationally treated, will precede the first in its 

 flowering. Fourteen days coldhouse treatment for all early kinds is 

 essential, and the time may be extended advantageously. Watch the crop 

 and its progress under these conditions and apply heat gradually with 

 caution and intelligence. Until growth is well in sight and the flower 

 scape is clear of the orifice of the bulb's neck a temperature of 45 F. will 

 suffice: but when -these critical stages are successfully passed a considerable 

 rise in temperature may be given. 



Avoid the close proximity of hot- water pipes; the arid conditions ex- 

 perienced are opposed to growth. Avoid root dryness at all costs; Daffodils 

 revel in moisture, and in the forcing house it can hardly be overdone. 

 Atmospheric moisture in conjunction with root- applied moisture conduces 

 to free growth and long, characteristic stems the latter a valued asset in 

 the forced Daffodil. 



BUNCHING AND MARKETING. This is the " last lap ", so to speak, in the 

 race, and not a few fail to grasp its importance. To grow a crop for weeks 

 on end, to expend a few pounds in fuel, and finally to put the flowers on 

 the market in a poor condition is the height of folly. Yet it is often done. 

 The more common errors are half-expanded flowers, short stems much 

 stem being cut to waste in the packing shed and limp flowers insuffi- 

 ciently supplied with water. A grower of forced daffodils should remember 

 to-day that as much is paid for the stem as for the flower at its summit, 

 short -stemmed flowers being practically valueless. Hence, preserve all 

 possible stem growth. Bunched the day before being marketed, and spend- 

 ing a whole night and day in water, the bunches " face up " well ; and, all 

 else being equal, represent the first-class article, while others not so treated 

 may come out but a very poor second. 



Fill the boxes well when packing up. Flowers loosely packed and 



