VI 



FEBRUARY 



DAFFODILS 



The time is ripe for a renewed interest in the narcissus, a 

 flower which from time immemorial has been held in especial 

 esteem by many peoples. There are hundreds of beautiful 

 varieties now available, of greatly varying types, and for the 

 most part they can be grown with very little trouble. It 

 seems strange that we should be able to say that there appear 

 to be fewer varieties cultivated in the average American 

 garden to-day than were grown in many English gardens 

 three or four centuries ago. And even in our own land, the 

 narcissus seems to be less generally grown in our gardens 

 than in those of our forefathers a century ago. In England 

 there are daffodil societies, especially organized to study and 

 improve the flower, and it is very desirable that similar 

 societies should be formed in America. 



There are few blossoms better adapted to intensify the de- 

 light of spring in the home, in city or country, than this. 

 Whether the grounds be large or small, there is room for 

 these bulbs, which only need to be placed in the soil in 

 autumn to yield their meed of beauty in spring. Once es- 

 tablished, they will reappear season after season, delighting 

 the eyes of all beholders. With less care than is required by 

 almost any other plant, they will also bloom in-doors in 

 • constant succession from Christmas until Easter. 



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