302 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
early district as compared with the same variety from a late locality. 
He suggested that the Society might procure such varieties as ' Golden 
Spur,' ' Obvallaris,' ' Sir Watkin,' and ' Empress/ and force them 
under suitable conditions at Wisley, and then in due season exhibit 
the plants, if possible, or cut flowers in the Hall. It was also worth 
considering if the various districts could not be induced to specialize 
in the varieties best suited for their localities, as this would ensure 
cheaper production. The Channel Islands, Mr. Jacob suggested, 
might specialize in ' Golden Spur ' and ' Obvallaris,' which do so well 
there, while in other districts later varieties could be grown in 
specialized quantities. 
Mr. Alfred White said that, as his father was one of the oldest 
bulb-growers in the trade, it might be of interest if he said how the 
business started. Some forty years ago his father collected Snow- 
drop bulbs from the surrounding cottagers in Spalding, and eventually 
produced from a million to a million and a half bulbs a year. Amongst 
the Snowdrop bulbs were occasional bulbs of the old double Daffodil, 
and after selling some to the trade the surplus were planted, and in 
spring the cut flowers were marketed. In this way his father 
commenced as a grower of bulbous flowers. Foreseeing the possi- 
bilities of cultivating the choicer Daffodils, he invested £300 in bulbs 
of ' Emperor ' and ' Empress ' at a time when they were quoted at 
a shilling each. These bulbs were planted on a plot about 50 X25 feet, 
much to the amusement of his friends. But a large stock was worked 
up, and the venture proved an unqualified success. Some twenty 
years later Mr. White had about five acres planted with bulbs, while 
at the present time there are five hundred acres of bulbs in the Spalding 
district. Mr. Alfred White was of the opinion that the same thing 
might be done in other places, but he hoped no one would come to 
Spalding, where bulb-growers were " quite thick' enough." Besides 
the large stock they possess, he said tons of bulbs had been exported 
to Holland, where they were propagated and sent back to England. 
Mr. White was emphatic in his 'opinion that the best prospects 
of the bulb-growing industry in this country lie in flower-production, 
and not for bulbs alone. At recent prices of the cheapest varieties it 
would not pay to grow for bulb-production alone. Protection would 
be necessary to enable growers to be independent of the flower market. 
Few persons besides those engaged in bulb cultivation realized the 
small proportion of bulbs that are fit for the seedsman. Mr. White 
also contended that prices should be regular, so that the grower could 
rely on a regular income. If the prices are good enough, bulbs can be 
grown well in England where there is plenty of suitable soil. 
Mr. H. Duncan Pearson supported Mr. White's remarks con- 
cerning the small proportion of the bulb crop which is saleable as 
bulbs. In his opinion not more than 25 per cent, of the bulbs grown 
here were of the size and appearance demanded by the salesman, 
whereas nearly all imported from the Continent are flowering bulbs. 
Mr. W. Cuthbertson outlined the steps which the Horticultural 
