94 DAFFODILS — NARCISSUS 



for the little pieces torn from the flow- 

 ers were found scattered about nearby. Af- 

 ter tasting the flowers for a day or two, they 

 left them alone for the rest of the season. 



THE BASAL ROT DISEASE 



The one serious pest of the daffodil is a 

 fungous disease, "basal rot," a sort of dry rot 

 which starts at the base, and, working up 

 through the centre of the bulb, soon destroys 

 it. To a casual observer the exterior of the 

 affected bulb (with the heart and centre en- 

 tirely eaten away) may appear to be in per- 

 fect condition. A bulb so infected cannot be 

 cured and should never be planted for fear 

 of spreading the disease. 



Before planting bulbs of varieties that are 

 especially liable to basal rot, they should be 

 carefully examined. Press each bulb firmly 

 near the base, between the thumb and fore- 

 finger. A really sound, healthy bulb is firm, 

 hard and unyielding. On the other hand, if 

 it is soft and yielding, it is suspicious. These 

 soft bulbs should not be planted near healthy 

 stock. If a pinch higher up the bulb still 

 develops a yielding softness, the presence of 



