DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 



351 



omatus ought to have burst and the bud to have turned, and no 

 trumpet should be gathered till the perianth has burst free from 

 the trumpet. The only danger in this system is, that if they 

 have stood too long in water the flowers seem too full of water, 

 and therefore are soft and do not carry well. 



The question naturally arises, Can we grow Daffodils in this 

 country as well as in any other ? The experience of the last six 

 years says emphatically Yes. 



I have examined omatus growing under a good cultivator on 

 the Riviera, and both foliage and bulb were quite one-third less 

 than those grown in this country. If the demand for bulbs for 

 forcing goes on increasing at the present rate, I am satisfied 

 that we shall be able to meet the demand, and that of America 

 also ; and I am satisfied that with annual lifting and planting, 

 and that done at the proper time, we need fear no competitors. 



Discussion. 



Mr. Jenkins said he would like to make one or two observa- 

 tions in regard to some statements in Mr. Walker's paper. 

 He agreed with that gentleman in his remarks about N. 

 Horsfieldii, which could not be compared with N. Empress. The 

 flowers of the latter could not be surpassed in the market. The 

 fault of N. Horsfieldii was the lack of substance in the segments 

 of the flower, and the only thing in its favour was that it produced 

 its flowers a few days earlier, but in regard to increase Empress 

 was far superior. In reference to N. cemuus plenus, Mr. 

 Jenkins said that Mr. Walker regarded that variety as good for 

 market purposes. He did not quite agree with the lecturer in 

 that view, as he was of opinion that N. ceriums plenus did not 

 pay for the outlay on it. As to the planting of N. poeticus 

 omatus first, as Mr. Walker advised, he would like to know the 

 reason for such recommendation. The Tenby Daffodil (N. 

 obvallaris) was, in his opinion, one of the very best and earliest 

 flowering kinds, appearing several weeks before poeticus omatus, 

 and, in his experience, being of a thoroughly good constitution. 

 With regard to the question of blindness in the flowers of double 

 poeticus, he thought no one could explain or knew the reason 

 of it, he himself having experimented with plants in frames and 

 in the open air with a view to discovering and preventing the 

 evil. He had even examined the bulbs at all seasons, according 



