CULTIVATION OF THE NARCISSUS IX GARDENS. 
39 
CULTIVATION OF THE NARCISSUS IN GARDENS. 
By Rev. S. Eugene Bourne, M.A. 
[April 24, 1900.] 
The numerous varieties of the Narcissus supply a very real need in our 
gardens and occupy a prominent position in the year's procession of 
beautiful flowers. Growing hardily in the open ground they delight us 
at a time when cut flowers from the open border are very scarce ; many 
of them rival in beauty the choicest treasures of the greenhouse and hot 
house ; with accommodating persistence they bloom in succession for 
nearly a quarter of tha year — i.e. (in ordinary seasons) from the be- 
ginning of March to the middle of May — without exacting from us any 
trouble and expense in supplying them with artificial heat ; when cut 
their flowers (most of them) last in water for ten days, or even more, 
before they fade ; and although there is a certain amount of truth in 
the objection that it is easy from a large collection to pick out a number 
of sorts which are rather similar in character, it is still easier to select a 
very large number which are far more distinct from each other than Rose 
from Rose, and C^arnation from Carnation. Their elegance, grace, and 
beauty are ravishing. The Narcissus may truly be called the king of the 
spring garden, and all who have a garden should do homage in his court, 
and at the same time satisfy their own love of the beautiful by growing 
a well-chosen collection. 
The task I set myself in this paper is io increase the number of 
cultivators of this delightful flower by showing that there is no real 
difficulty in its cultivation ; that what is needed is (as in all kinds of 
successful effort) a careful attention to details. My paper will be a very 
simple one. I do not presume to instruct expert growers. In Narcissus 
growing, as in most things, there are differences of opinion, so I do not 
wish to dogmatise too much ; but for the assistance of those who at 
present know little or nothing about the matter I shall lay down a few 
easy rules which in my own experience I have found sufficient to secure 
a very satisfactory measure of success. I shall also offer a little advice 
as to what are the most desirable varieties to grow, for when I began 
Narcissus growing myself I should have been saved much expense and 
many disappointments if I had had some such guidance. 
If any scientific expression should be used in this paper in a popular 
rather than a scientific sense I crave indulgence from the scientific. 
In the Narcissus family there are three main groups distinguished by 
the. size (and shape) of the corona of the flower — (I.) the Magni-coronati, 
(II.) the Medii-coronati, (HI.) the Parvi-coronati. The Magni-coronati 
are the large or long-crowned Narcissi, called Trumpet Narcissi, from 
the trumpet-like shape of the corona. These are the true Daffodils. The 
Parvi-coronati are the small-crowned varieties : their crown is of a flat, 
saucer-like shape. They are the true Narcissi. Intermediate between 
these two groups — the result of hybridisation (natural or artificial) be- 
tween them — come the Medii-coronati, with crowns of intermediate size 
