THE BOOK OF THE DAFFODIL. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE DAFFODIL, A MUCH VALUED FLOWER. 



. . . "The Narcissus wondrously glittering, a noble sight for all, 

 whether immortal Gods, or mortal men ; from whose root a hundred 

 heads spring forth, and at the fragrant odour [thereof] all the broad 

 heaven above, and all the earth laughed, and the salt-wave of the sea." 



" Hymn to Demeter." 

 " Fed of heavenly dew the Narcissus blooms morn by morn with 

 fair clusters, crown of the great goddesses from of yore." 



" CEoiPUS AT CoLoNUS " — Sophocles. 



It is a flower we cannot do without, this Daffodil or 

 Narcissus. Whether after the popular manner we adopt 

 the prettier and more easily pronounced word and call 

 it "Daffodil" (though "Daffodil" is really only a sec- 

 tional name), or whether with more scientific people we 

 keep to the well-established name of the genus and speak 

 of it as the Narcissus, it is a plant which the ardent 

 gardener feels he must grow as soon as he sees it in 

 some of its finer forms. 



It is a plant which has asserted itself much of late, 

 and with good reason. Its numerous varieties supply 

 a very real need in our gardens, and occupy a prominent 

 position in the year's procession of beautiful flowers. 

 Growing hardily in the open ground, they delight us at 

 a time when cut flowers from the open border are very 

 scarce ; many of them rival in beauty the choicest trea- 

 sures of the greenhouse and hot-house ; with accom- 



