40 JOUKNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
and shape. They are called the Chalice-cupped or Star Narcissi, from 
the appearance (respectively) of the crowns and the perianths. 
(I.) The most interesting subdivisions of the Magni-coronati, or true 
Daffodils, are (1) the self-yellow Daffodils, (2) the bicolor Daffodils, and 
(3) the white or sulphur Daffodils. They vary considerably in their degrees 
of vigour of constitution. (4) The other subdivision — viz. the Hoop- 
petticoat Daffodils, with curiously shaped trumpets and insignificant peri- 
anths — is perhaps not so interesting to the ordinary grower. 
(II.) The Medii-coronati are arranged in a considerable number of 
subdivisions of which the most popular and beautiful are the Leedsii 
(or white Eucharis-flowered Narcissi), the Incomparabilis, the Barrii, the 
Triandrus and Odorus classes. The great majority of these are very 
vigorous in constitution. 
(III.) The more important divisions of the Parvi-coronati, or true 
Narcissi, looked at from a gardener's point of view are the Poeticus or 
Pheasant-eye varieties, the Burbidgei (which, though mainly of Poeticus 
blood, have a very slight infusion of Daffodil blood in them), and the 
Jonquils. Most of them are very hardy and vigorous. The Tazetta (or 
Polyanthus Narcissus varieties, not being thoroughly hardy, are better 
treated as a separate subject ; and I have also passed over the rare and 
botanically interesting kinds of this group which do not lend themselves 
to ordinary garden cultivation. 
Throughout this paper the whole family will be spoken of as Narcissi; 
the Magni-coronati group as Daffodils ; the Medii-coronati as Star Narcissi; 
the Parvi-coronati as true Narcissi. 
As to Soil and Situation. — The greater number of varieties will 
do very fairly well in almost any kind of garden soil, but even the most 
accommodating kinds will of course produce their best results when 
grown in the most suitable surroundings. It is often stated that the 
Narcissus does best in strong soil. But such a statement is misleading 
when made without modification. Let me tell you my own experience, 
reaching over a good many years, with.~a large and representative collec- 
tion. I began growing Narcissi in a garden of very good but decidedly 
strong loam, and inclined to be wet in winter. The soil was rather 
shallow, varying from 11 to 14 inches in depth and resting on a sub-soil 
of strong clay. I got exceptionally fine flowers, but many of the plants 
" went off," and I found on lifting a large number of bulbs affected with 
basal rot. I was told I must expect heavy losses of this kind in Narcissus 
growing, but I thought the percentage too high. I accordingly made a 
number of deep well-drained beds and mixed a lot of lighter soil with the 
natural soil of the garden, and worked in a supply of stick-ashes " 
before planting. In these beds I planted delicate and doubtful kinds and 
the more expensive bulbs of vigorous kinds, and put the white Daffodils 
and some other very delicate kinds in maiden loam of a rather light and 
gritty character. The result has been delightful, and for years past my 
Narcissi have not only given me excellent flowers (not quite so large 
perhaps in some cases, as in the heavy soil, but still very excellent and 
year by year maintaining their excellence), but also an unusually small 
proportion of unhealthy bulbs. So I recommend a not too heavy loam — 
a well- drained soil of medium consistency with a certain character of 
