164 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Having laid down the lines of information desired, I was kindly 

 advised by Miss Willmott, Rev. G. Engleheart, and Mr. R. Sydenham as 

 to the varieties in the four groups to experiment and observe upon. 



The end of July was recommended as the best time to commence my 

 observations. 



I procured through Mr. R. Sydenham some choice bulbs, all as nearly 

 as possible uniform in weight, of each variety from a Guernsey firm 

 and started my observations on July 26, 1902. 



In my garden border at Clapham, having a north-west aspect, I 

 planted twenty four rows of eight bulbs to the row ; each row represented 

 a variety. 



The soil was a medium garden-soil, inclined to be strong. The 

 ground was trenched twelve inches deep, but no manure of any kind was 

 used, so that the quality of the soil may be considered as "very moderate." 



All the bulbs were planted with two inches of soil over the crowns, 

 and the first bulb in each row was examined daily until signs of rooting 

 were recorded, the. bulb being carefully replaced at same depth and 

 properly covered with soil after each examination. This was the most 

 tedious part of the experiment. 



After rooting had commenced, a bulb was carefully dug up from each 

 row on the 26th of each month and the progress of root and plumule 

 recorded. 



Twice during the experiment the twenty-four varieties were photo- 

 graphed, so that the progress would more readily appeal to the eye. 



Simultaneously with planting the bulbs in soil I placed a representa- 

 tive bulb of the twenty- four varieties in some special observation glasses 

 I had made, the water just touching the stem, and in each glass I placed 

 a lump of charcoal to keep the water sweet, renewing the water from 

 time to time as required. 



In these glasses the first signs of rooting were detected with the 

 greatest ease and their progress followed daily and recorded on the 26th 

 of each month, at the same time as those in soil. 



These observation glasses were placed on a shelf protected from the 

 weather on my garden wall, facing east, and remained outside all winter ; 

 on frosty nights I protected them with a curtain, but on two occasions 

 there was thin ice on the water, and so I kept the conditions of the bulbs 

 in water and soil as much as possible alike. 



From the records taken from those in soil and those in water I con- 

 structed the following tables and observations of progress. 



Refer to tables in soil and water, pages 174 et seq. 



The tables and observations answer to a great extent the questions 

 proposed at the beginning of the experiment. 



Enthusiasts who have made Narcissi a study will be able to form 

 many deductions by examining these figures. 



Hybridists conversant with the crosses will be interested to trace 

 traits of the parentage, and should assist judgment as to future crossing 

 on good rooting varieties. 



(1 rowers should find indications as to the depth of soil required, and, 

 as far as the limited varieties go, which bulbs are the most active and 

 require early planting, and which will bear later. 



