Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 73 



Narcissus. Apart from the kinds grown for market under the name 

 of "Daffodils" (see p. 26), there are several species, varieties, and hybrids 

 now in commerce, some of them exquisite in shape and colour, and vary- 

 ing in price from a few pence per dozen to several pounds per bulb. The 

 common Poet's Narcissus (N. poeticus), and its variety ornatus, are grown 

 in hundreds of thousands, in the market gardens of Middlesex, Evesham, 

 and other places, beneath fruit trees. They are planted in beds 4-5 ft. 

 wide in rows about 6 in. apart, so that something like a quarter of a 

 million bulbs go to an acre of ground, allowing for pathways, &c. Where 

 the soil is well cultivated and drained, the bulbs live for many years 

 without lifting, and they increase in number at a steady rate. In some 

 places, however, there is a tendency to die out with disease, probably 

 brought about by soil sickness induced by allowing the bulbs to remain 

 for too many years in the same place without lifting. If the -flowers 

 happen to come in just at Eastertime a very fair profit may result from 

 the sale of the crop; but if a fortnight sooner or later than Easter the 

 flowers may be a drug on the market, and realize less than 2d. per dozen 

 bunches of twelve flowers. Under fairly good conditions from 40,000 to 

 50,000 bunches may be reckoned to the acre, and the gross receipts may 

 be anything from 25 to 80. The cost of picking, bunching, packing, and 

 marketing will come to about 15 or 20 per acre, whether the prices 

 realized are good or bad, so that the net profits are difficult to gauge. 

 Taking the average, however, the Poet's or Pheasant's Eye Narcissus may 

 be regarded as a fairly good' catch crop -on land- that is chiefly engaged 

 in producing fruit. When the newer and finer varieties become more 

 reasonable in price it may be worth the market grower's while to plant 

 some of them on a larger scale. The true poeticus flowers about a month 

 later than its variety ornatus. For special kinds and varieties the reader 

 should consult current bulb catalogues. 



Nasturtium. Under this name several garden forms of Tropceolum 

 majus and T. minus are grown and sold in pots or boxes early in the 

 year for bedding out. Being easily grown annuals the seeds are sown 

 in any ordinary compost in February, March, or April, and the young 

 plants are fit for sale in May and June. The tall, coarse-growing varieties 

 of T. majus are not so much appreciated as the dwarfer forms, but they 

 are very effective over arches, trellises, &c., in summer. Some of the 

 best tall varieties are King Theodore, deep crimson; Queen Alexandra, 

 blood red, variegated leaves; Queen of Spain, golden yellow with brown 

 spots, and variegated leaves; Vesuvius, deep apricot; and many others 

 in various shades. Amongst the dwarf or "Tom Thumb" section are 

 Golden Cloth, scarlet, yellow leaves; Empress of India, intense crimson; 

 King, brilliant scarlet; and many other fine varieties. There are also 

 double-flowered forms with yellow and scarlet flowers; and a new dwarf 

 " Liliput " strain, which form compact bushy plants smothered in bloom 

 in a great variety of colours. 



Nemesia strurnosa. This beautiful half-hardy South African annual 



