NARCISSUS 



THE BULB BOOK 



NARCISSUS 



in "Grand Monarque,'' but is mucli 

 longer than the tube in the other 

 cases, being longest of all in the large 

 trumpet section. The diagrams being 

 drawn to a similar scale vriU give the 

 reader an accurate idea as to the 



proportions between one organ and 

 another in the different groups. The 

 following measurements (in milli- 

 metres) taken from actual but 

 ordinary specimens may also be 

 interesting for comparison : — 



Between these five types there are 

 innumerable gradations, so that any- 

 thing like a scientific classification 

 of Narcissi is practically out of the 

 question. Artificial groupings wiQ, 

 however, be made by specialists from 

 time to time to meet temporary 

 emergencies ; but such groupings are 

 Ukely to succeed each other pretty 

 frequently. 



Cultivation. — Amongst bulbous 

 plants perhaps there are none so 

 popular as the Daffodils and Narcissi 

 for cultivation in the open air, or 

 for forcing into early blossom in 

 greenhouses during the first months 

 of the year. With few exceptions 

 they are all very hardy, and once 

 planted are able to look after them- 

 selves. Some species and varieties 

 of course are much scarcer, and 

 therefore more valuable than others. 

 Special attention is given to these 

 until the stock becomes large enough 

 to plant out in quantity. This 

 applies perhaps more especially to 

 the large trumpet-flowered varieties, 

 both single and double, but many 

 of the smaller-flowered kinds are also 

 delightful if grown in the same way. 



The soil most suitable for Daffodils 



and Narcissi should be, if possible, 

 a rich and rather heavy loam with 

 a fair amount of grit and' well- 



FiQ. 269.— Narcissus, 1-year seedling. 



decayed manure in it. It should 

 be deeply dug or trenched in the 

 first case, to ensure perfect drainage 

 and increased warmth during the 



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