ON THE WORK OF THE NARCISSUS & TULIP COMMITTEE. 187 



5. Besides the operations curried on at experimental stations in 

 localities said to have the power of doubling, »v.c, gome sets of marked 

 bulbs should be planted at Chiswick, under experimental conditions, and 



possibly in other places, where they can be watched by the Committee. 



A meeting was held, and experiments wen; instituted at Chiswick, 

 bulbs being planted in a variety of soils, local and brought from elsewhere, 



mixed and unmixed, manured and unnianiired, under the observation of 

 Mr. J. G. Baker, F.K.tt. 



On April 14, a meeting of the newly formed Committee was held at 

 South Kensington, Mr. II. -I. Elwes, F.R.ft., in the Chair, when the list 

 was submitted which had been drawn up by the Conference Committed 

 with popular names substituted for the Latinised ones, including also the 

 names of the older described species. Objection was taken to some 



division of Triandrus and Calathinus which proved fatal, and this list was 

 never accepted, though the revision of names in compliance with the 



Conference resolution was taken up and continued by us, and up to tin 

 present time the rule has been adhered to in all strictness. 



In \hhc> a preliminary meeting was held to make arrangements for 



tlic season, and at the Suggestion of Professor Foster, F.R.8., a notice was 

 drawn up and a routine of business arranged as follows: "The (Join 

 mittee will meet at 11 o'clock, when a list of the specimens sent iii for 

 examination and of questions for discussion will be presented. The 



Committee will first determine what specimens and questions it will fake 



into consideration, and thereupon be adjourned in order that the members 

 may conveniently and deliberately examine the speeimens. At 1.80 P.M. 



the Committee will reassemble and proceed to the discussion of the 

 specimens, t tc, according to the List previously agreed upon. . . . The 

 Committee will be glad to receive communications or inquiries relating to 



the natural history and culture of Narcissus, also suggestions for in vesica- 

 tion, in order that the work may be made as broad and useful as possible/' 

 The circular also contained directions as to sending flowers and general 

 instructions to be followed. A very liberal response was made to this 

 invitation, and so plentiful was the material sent for investigation thai 



four or five o'clock would arrive with the work unfinished. Consequently 

 it was found necessary to dispense with the midday adjournment and 

 work steadily from the stall. 



It must be remembered that in 1880, though Daffodils were advancing 



fast in popular favour, not only were the newer seedling varieties little 

 known, but even the type forms were not familiar to the majority of 

 nurserymen and amateurs. Such names as Princeps and Maxim us were 

 doing duty for a number of relatives besides their own individual selves, 

 and one of the chief points to which tin; Committee applied itself was the 

 reduction of the confusion in existing names. Moreover, in the ease of 

 many garden Daffodils, such as Moschatus, which had been in cultivation 

 for centuries in Holland and in this COuntrf, it was not known how far 

 they might be wild varieties, and if so, what were their native; habitats. 

 Diligent search made through many portions of Europe; by such men as 

 Mr. G. Maw, Mr. Tait, Mr. Wolley Dod, Mr. Barr, and others did much to 

 settle this point, and also resulted in the introduction of new forms for the 

 first time — Cyclamineus, Johnstoni, &c, information being communicated 



