THE DAFFODIL : ITS ROOT PROGRESS. 



165 



The following remarks occur to me, and I mention them in the order 

 of the columns. 



I was careful at the beginning to take the diameter and weight of 

 bulbs of each variety for two reasons : 



(1) For comparison as to results. 



(2) To determine whether density had any influence on free rooting or 

 robustness. 



The columns show great variations ; for instance, ' Cernuus plenus ' is 

 the same diameter as 1 Cernuus,' yet the the specific gravity of the former is 

 2 ounces to the dozen heavier. 



'Cernuus' is a bulb of easy culture, but 'Cernuus plenus' is most 

 difficult to cultivate, and I thought perhaps the great density of this 

 marble-like bulb was just the difference between failure and success. 



Results show this is not so. 'Autocrat,' with the same diameter and 

 1 ounce per dozen heavier than ' Cernuus plenus,' is described in my 

 observations as " extremely vigorous and a model root." (See 10 and 10a 

 in figs. 35 and 37.) 



In striking contrast is ' Queen of Spain,' having the same diameter 

 as 'Cernuus plenus,' but 3 ounces per dozen lighter. This bulb produced 

 the scantiest roots of all the twenty-four varieties, these two cases proving 

 that density is no criterion and has no bearing on free rooting or robust- 

 ness. (See 4 and 4a in figs. 35 and 37.) 



Nor is size of any importance as to the number of rootlets, as ' Grand 

 Monarque,' w T ith its diameter of 2£ inches, only produced in soil 25 root- 

 lets as against ' Obvallaris,' If inch diameter, with its 164 rootlets. 



1 noticed the bulbs ' Autocrat,' ' Stella,' and ' Campernelle rugulosus ' 

 had very large stems for such small bulbs ; yet all these had model roots. 

 (See 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 19, 39a in figs. 35, 36, 37, 38.) 



'Cernuus plenus' and 'Queen of Spain' the smallest: is this a 

 coincidence merely ? 



It is not always practicable to plant bulbs in July. In wet or late years 

 the foliage is not dead, and they cannot be lifted till the first or second 

 week of August. 



The Polyanthus group are the latest to die down. 



I want to specially point out that the bulbs I planted were only lifted 

 seven days previous to the date of planting, and the Polyanthus were 

 disturbed even before the foliage was ripe, so that I should have them by 

 July 26. 



Referring to my figures in column (c), page 170, I find the most active 

 of all the bulbs was ' Jaune Supreme,' w T hich showed signs of rooting in 

 thirteen days after planting. 



I have already explained that this bulb was lifted before the foliage 

 was ripe, and for argument's sake we shall say it was not dormant at time 

 of lifting and required a further seven days ; then the period of rest of this 

 particular bulb would be only thirteen days. 



' Mont Cenis ' was almost as active in nineteen days. 



In contrast to this great activity, ' Prins Metternich,' of the same group : 

 was fifty-two days planted before it showed signs of rooting, and, with the 

 exception of ' Orange Phoenix,' was the most dormant of all ; yet this 

 sleepy bulb flowered only six days later than wakeful ' Jaune Supreme.' 



