1898. 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



2?Q 



DAFFODILS AT DlTTON. 



* ia »re like the spring time, ever new, ever fresh, ever beautiful ; each 

 The ( f ^ 'omirg fe^ heralded in February by the tiny little Narassus 

 ^•ls a U look forward with keen delight to the bold trumpet forms that will 

 rTthe w nds of March, and we sigh for the exquisite elegance and beauty of 

 ^ " Im&L leedsi, and poeticus, forms that shall continue the display 

 ^L^ti^g the season well into May if the sun is not too fierce. 

 Stn as cream and yellow, gold and orange, white and silver tints appear 

 the waving green spear-like foliage we say-and fully believe-that never 



are Golden Nugget, a strong grower with a finely frilled golden trumpet of great 

 size ; this is a fine cross between Emperor and Maximum the former being the 



seed parent ^Apricot is something distinct in trumpet daffodils, for in its finely- 

 formed tube is a beautiful shade of orange-tinted apricot that goes well with the 

 white perianth. Close at hand is Lady Helen Vincent, a huge golden, large- 

 trumpeted variety, that may be considered as a very refined Glory of Lieden, the 

 latter variety being itself conspicuous here by reason of its bold handsome blooms. 

 Weardale Perfection is being largely ured as a parent, and up to date it has not 

 been displaced from the position it attained four years ago as the finest of daffodils. 

 Grace Darling, with twisted and overlapping white perianth segments that form a 

 fine setting for the delicate pale primrose trumpet, demands attention by reason 

 of it? refinement and elegance; Victoria, the Messrs. Barrs' 1X97 introduction, is 



Narc ssus triandrus albus. 



were (lowers so gloriously beautiful, and there is nothing to compare with the 

 daffodils for our gardens, woodlands, or our rooms. With each returning spring 

 we have the same feeling with regard to these fragrant flowers, and it is a pleasure 

 to know that every spring a larger number than formerly are enjoying the wonderful 

 hnds and productions of the firm of Messrs. Barr and Sons, of Covent Garden and 

 Long Ditton No other firm has done so much for the daffodil, either by spirited 

 enterprise in collecting new species and varieties, or purchasing new seedlings and 

 Hybrids, or by patient cross fertilisation at the pleasant Long Ditton nurseries with 

 a view to obtaining extra fine forms. This being so it is but to be expected tha- 

 at Long Ditton a fine display will be on view during daffodil time, and probably 

 not a few surprises in store. 



Narcissus bicolor Mrs. Walter] Ware. 



It 



!° stations (L and V w^> ng Dltton Nurseries ' either Surbiton or King- 



* ? ut a pleasant wfil \ If you find y° urself at the old town of Kingston 

 C r f ver side to DiJrnn P ^ the J Market Place and *e King's Stone, and along 

 whl .te thorn and • 1 ° Wn a ty P ical Surre y ,ane between high hedges 

 ^ As soon a?7ll ring -i elm ' and a short Walk brin S s you to the celebrated 

 the e ye, and vou *1 arch is P assed Patches and breadths of colour 



If Mr. p p p lg bulb farm c° mbine d with a first-rate hardy plant 

 %2*t wiQ be Qf ■ jarr can spare an hour or two to escort you round then 



J ft « first move is £ ? rest ' for he P° ssesses much practical knowledge. 



** and hybrids Sbelt ^ ^ A ,work > wh <*e the new seed- 



the ch <»cest, 'highesfpriced daffodils are to be found. Here 



a lovely bicolor with creamy-white perianth and golden trumpet, the latter finely 

 frilled at the mouth ; Victoria has a splendid constitution and grows freely. Other 

 of the rarer trumpet daffodils that demand a word are Monarch, a magnificent 

 yellow self, that Messrs. Barr ask the modest sum of fifteen guineas per bulb for ; 

 Mrs. Walter Ware, a beautiful bicolor, with very pure white perianth and frilled 

 trumpet ; Madame de Graaff, the largest white trumpet daffodil, having, however, 

 a primrose tint in the tube of a newly opened flower ; T. B. M. Camm, white 

 perianth and soft chrome trumpet ; and Madam- Plemp, white and gold, a mag- 

 nificent form with long tube. All the foregoing are more or less expensive, bu: 

 there are abundance of other trumpet daffodils almost if not altogether their 

 equals in beauty, as strong, and much cheaper. A few of the best for general 



Narcissus Johnstoni Queen of Spain. 



cultivation, and varieties that are cultivated in thousands, tens of thousands, or 

 hundreds of thousands, at Long .Ditton, are Emperor and Empress, two popular 

 kinds • Abcissus a very late form, and one of the grandest for naturalising ; 

 Golden Sour very early and rich in colour ; Johnstoni Queen of Spain, one of 

 ? h fZ5 P :ie^of d'aftodils soft, yellow with reflexing perianth segments; 

 Maximus, the richest yellow daffodil ; P. R. Barr, pnmrose perianth and yellow 

 trumpet, a parent of several newer sorts ; Thomas Moore, bicolor grandis, Hors- 

 fieldT Michael Foster, princeps cernuus and Cernuus pulcher, very early silvery- 

 white forms ; Snow King, W. P. Milner and W m. Goldrmg. 



Gloria Mundi heads the mcomparabihs group, or medium -crowned daffodils ; 

 it is a wondrously beautiful variety with yellow perianth and orange fringed 



