NARCISSUS—SECTIONS. 



57 



viewed ; a great feature having been made of the daffodil at the spring shows, and its 

 cultivation having been taken up by him on an extensive scale. To him is also due the 

 re-introduction of some of the narcissi known to the older florists, but lost to cultiva- 

 tion ; his travels in Spain and Portugal in search of these leading also to the discovery 

 of forms before unknown. 



Gerarde, Parkinson, Salisbury, Haworth, Herbert, and, more recently, Mr. J. G. 

 Baker and Mr. F. W. Burbidge, have, by their writings, contributed much to our 

 knowledge of the narcissi. The Daffodil Conference held by the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society in April, 1884, exerted also a great influence in favour of their cultivation, 

 while the appointment by that society of a Narcissus Committee secured the adoption of 

 a more scientific nomenclature, and in other ways greatly promoted the cultivation of 

 the flower. 



So much has been written and said of the daffodil that it is almost superfluous to say 

 anything more in its favour. Its beauty commands admiration. None of our early 

 flowers is more worthy of praise. Its value in the garden, the shrubbery, the park, the 

 wood, and for cut flowers is incalculable. Its nodding trumpets and chalice -shaped cups 

 give delight to all — a delight increased by the more glorious or more refined beauty of 

 some of the newer flowers. A garden without the daffodil is unfurnished indeed, and 

 the greenhouse may be made gay with it in early spring ere the outdoor flowers have 

 come into bloom. 



The genus Narcissus belongs to the Natural Order of Amaryllideoe, and is found 

 in various parts of Europe, North Africa, and North and West Asia. It has been 

 very fully described and arranged by Mr. J. G. Baker in his " Handbook of 

 the Amaryllideee," * which may be referred to for botanical details. Mr. Baker's 

 arrangement in three sections is a convenient one, which is generally followed in the 

 selections which are given below. 



The first of these are the plants included in the Magnicoronati, with a funnel-shaped 

 or cylindrical cup, as long as the perianth segments; the second are Mediocoronati, 

 with a cup-shaped crown, about half as long as the perianth segments ; and the third, 

 the Parvicoronati, with a small obconical or saucer-shaped crown. 



The first of these include what are known as the Trumpet Daffodils, perhaps the 

 finest and most admired of all. The Mediocoronati embrace the elegant N. triandrus, 

 " Angel's tears," with reflexed petals (Fig. 27) ; N. incomparabilis, the " Great None- 



* London : G. Bell & Sons. 1888. 

 VOL. II. I 



