28 
BULLETIN 1270, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE * 
Table li. — Yields of narcissus stocks on Lynden sandy loam soils at BelUngham, 
Wash., in the years stated 
Name of variety 
Total number of bulbs planted 
1919 
1920 
1922 
1,595 
2,982 
3.590 
451 
673 
1,008 
385 
544 
1,075 
660 
1.424 
1,429 
572 
967 
1,113 
Bulbs sold 
in 1922 
Double Van Bion 
Horsfieldii 
Madame Plemp.. 
Princeps 
Sulphur Phoenix. 
200 
1C0 
1,000 
250 
G rowei-s without previous experience are likely to make very 
grave errors in their computations of yields. Some such errors 
are familiar to the writer. The wrong estimates result from com- 
putations based on prime mother bulbs propagated for too short 
a time. 
The grower who contracts for double-nosed daffodils and gets 
not only the two-nosed bulb but the clumps as dug, including three 
or four noses, and bases his estimate of yield on the multiplication 
the first two years, is certain to be unpleasantly surprised to find 
the yield dropping off in later years. Even if the grower continues 
his culture by planting back all of his stock for five or six years 
he is still prone to overestimate, for the reason that when he begins 
to sell both round and double-nosed bulbs his yields are going to 
take a tremendous slump as compared with his yields when bulbs 
of all sizes are planted. It is only when he has learned what per- 
centage of large bulbs it is necessary to plant back in order to main- 
tain stocks under his conditions that he knows what to expect in the 
way of yield. 
These circumstances have less application in the case of certain 
of the Polyanthus group, notably the Paperwhite Grandiflora, for 
with them the multiplication is much more rapid. They have less 
application in certain varieties, such as Kecurvus and Conspicuus, in 
which it is usually possible to turn off what one plants and have 
abundant stock to replant the same area at each 2-year period. It is 
very different, however, with the big trumpet forms. 
CONDITIONS OF DAFFODIL CULTURE 
Fortunately, the experience of the Department of Agriculture in 
these experiments lias been varied enough, it is believed, to demon- 
strate quite conclusively the conditions suited to bulb production in 
thi- genus. 
The work was begun on a 10-acre tract, approximately half of 
which was a sandy loam and the other half Whatcom silt underlain 
with day. For the first years the stocks were grown part of the time 
<»u the triable -oil and part of the time on the heavier loam. The 
results wen- fairly satisfactory, considering that comparatively low 
fertility was maintained. The bases stayed in the bulbs, but they 
were not of prime (piality. In 1 ( .)1C> nearly all the stocks were moved 
to sandy loam which had never been planted to bulbs but had been 
farmed since the early settlement of the region. It was in a fair 
state of fertility. The best bulbs produced during these investiga- 
tion- were during the 2-year period under these eonditions. 
