70 



PICTORIAL PEACTICAL BriB GBOWIXG. 



Apart from considerations of garden adornment. Daffodils have 

 a value for decorative purposes indoors, where, if given fresh water 

 each day, they last for a week, or even more, in fine condition. Of 

 course, when they are put into rooms whose atmosphere is laden with 

 the fumes of gas the blooms are much shorter lived. 



Classification is the order of the day amongst all flowers, and 

 fortunately with Narcissi the dividing lines are so sharply defined 

 that they are easily understood. Daffodils in this respect differ 

 substantially from other flowers, in whose divisioDs the classifiers 

 themselves have the utmost diflicalty in finding the points. 



The separation of the Daffodils into sections is governed by easy 

 natural laws into large, medium, and small trumpet varieties. The 

 botanist would not express himself in such terms as these, but 

 would say Magni-Coronati, Medio-Coronati, and Parvi-Coronati, 

 respectively. Happily, these terms are readily Anglicised, and the 

 average Board school youth, in the profundity of his Latin knowledge, 

 would be readilj^ ecpial to the task. To illustrate the three sections in 

 the order given, Emperor, Sir AYatkin, and poetic us may be mentioned. 



The variations in form amongst Daffodils are so great that sub- 

 sections might be originated: indeed, some attempt has been made 

 in this direction, but except where the governing factor has been 

 botanical success has not been great. AVere it not for the ^'aried 

 sizes and shapes, the popularity of the Daffodil would soon start 

 on the down grade, for the range of colouration is limit :d. There 

 are yellows in varying shades, white, and in some of the small and 

 medium cupped flowers rich orange and red. 



It would be comparatively simple to secure from two dozen 

 judiciously selected varieties praccically all the tones of colour, 

 unless one sought for infinitesimal differences : but were one bound 

 down in such a way as this, the loss in form and size would be so 

 great that, except for the smallest gardens, the collection would be 

 incomplete, 



Hapi:)ily, too, for the maintenance of interest in the Xarcissus 

 family, there is a beautiful latitude in price. In fact, therf are 

 indications that the thirst for unirpie varieties, as in Orchids 

 of the present day and the Tulip mania ot a century or so back, 

 is growing, and that the enthusiast is prepared to pay any amount 

 provided that he can get something which his neighbour does not 

 possess. 



Before niaking his selections the would-be champion should 

 examine his bank book and decide to what limits he can go. AVe 

 can find plenty of varieties ranging from 12 to 18 guineas a 

 bulb ; we can go still farther and pay 50 guineas for some highly 

 extolled novelty, or we can liave 1,000 sound flowering bulbs for as 

 small a sum as one and a half guinea. " Common ! someone may 

 say. Yes ; but if planted in the grass in the wild garden or the 

 "woodland they will make a lovely display. 



One might regard the purchase of 20-guinea bulbs as an 

 investment, but with men like the Rev. G. H. Engleheart at work it 



