DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 



343 



Soleil d'Or (yellow and orange), Bazelman major and minor 

 (white and orange), Primo citronier (white with yellow), &c. 



From the beginning to the middle of the present century a 

 large number of leading varieties of N. Tazetta were grown in 

 the villages to the north of Haarlem, where the heavier soil is 

 well adapted to them. In the later years, however, their culti- 

 vation has spread over the whole bulb district of Holland, 

 although there are but a few growers who make a speciality of it. 

 I have consulted the cash-book of one of these growers of 

 N. Tazetta in the north of Holland, whose family later on was 

 the most famous in this line. He began to grow in 1785, and in 

 1791 he sold his first Tazetta, viz., Grand Soleil d'Or, at Is. per 

 dozen, and Bazelman major at 3s. 6d. per dozen. 



The varieties of Polyanthus Narcissus are much better now 

 than they were a century ago, and amongst the various growers 

 who raised these better forms the firm of V. Schertzer & Sons 

 may be particularly mentioned, the members of this firm having 

 from the very first paid special attention to raising seedlings 

 of this class, and the last quinquennial Haarlem bulb show has 

 again proved that their endeavours have had good success. As 

 before mentioned, only a few of the older varieties are retained in 

 cultivation. The inferior forms are from time to time aban- 

 doned, and their places taken by newer and better ones. The 

 best varieties for general cultivation are well known among the 

 trade, as well as by amateurs. As for the most recent novelties, 

 it would be of no use to speak of them here, as only in excep- 

 tional cases are they to be obtained as yet. From the registers 

 of our own firm I find that we have at different times cultivated 

 between 500 and 600 varieties, of which at the present moment 

 we retain about one-third. 



The principal use made of Polyanthus Narcissi is to grow 

 them in pots for early forcing, for which they are very well 

 adapted. The leading "sorts" were formerly in very great 

 demand for this purpose, but in the last few years the cut-flower 

 trade, assisted by easy and quick transport, has developed to 

 such an extent that in those countries where Polyanthus Nar- 

 cissi grow readily without the necessity of protection against 

 frost, and where they flower two or more months earlier in the 

 open ground than they do in Holland, the blossoms of Poly- 

 anthus Narcissus have become one of the principal articles of 



