THE PEODUCTION OF NARCISSUS BULBS 29 
In 1918 and 1919 the stocks were again planted on "Whatcom silt 
loam of a depth of about 14 inches. The results the first two years 
were fairly satisfactory, but since that time the stocks, as a rule, 
have not behaved as they should in either reproduction, quality, or 
general healthfulness, although good fertility has been maintained. 
It is thought that the measure of success the first two years on this 
soil was due, in part at least, to the large proportion of forest 
debris which held the soil in better tilth than it has been in later 
years. 
It is not to be inferred that all the varieties have behaved alike. 
The forms of the Poeticus group and its derivatives which have been 
grown have succeeded admirably. Ornatus, Recurvus, Alba Plena 
Odorata, and Poetaz Elvira have been a decided success under all 
circumstances. 
All this, be it remembered, relates to the production of bulbs. 
There has never been a time on any soil when the floral display in 
the spring was little if any short of perfect. So pronouncedly and 
uniformly good have been the floral displays each spring that keen 
plantsmen have been loath to believe that the daffodils were not 
adapted to these heavy soils. It is fortunate, in a way, that circum- 
stances have been such as to permit the making of a demonstration 
so decided. 
NARCISSUS VARIETIES AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION 
The varieties of narcissus are exceedingly numerous, and unlike 
many other genera of plants the natural species are still prized and 
cultivated so far as they are obtainable and adaptable to cultural 
conditions. In 1887 William Baylor Hartland 5 listed in his cata- 
logue about 110 garden varieties. Kirby 6 in 1907 listed about 525. 
Robert Sydenham 7 in 1913 described nearly 1,300 varieties, while 
the Daffodil Nomenclature Committee 8 of the Royal Horticultural 
Society in 1916 listed about 2,800 names which have been applied 
mainly to garden varieties of this genus. 
In the bulb catalogue of one of the leading Dutch firms for 1923 
nearly 200 varieties are offered for sale. While 200 may be taken 
as a fair average of the offerings of commercial concerns, no two 
firms agree throughout in the list of varieties offered, and it would 
be a comparatively easy matter to-day to procure twice this average 
number of varieties, with a negligible number of synonyms. 
Each year sees scores of new names published representing horti- 
cultural varieties recently bred. Some of these, it may be confidently 
predicted, will become leaders when better known and the stocks be- 
come available. The greatest activity in breeding in this group is 
in the British Isles and the Netherlands, but investigations are by 
no means wanting in other parts of the world. 
All the more pretentious and reliable commercial lists since 1914, 
the date of the first issue of the report of the Daffodil Xomencla- 
5 Hartland, William Baylor. Hartland's " original " little book of daffodils, oxlips, 
cowslips, and primroses. 28 p., illus. Cork, Ireland. 1887. 
6 Kirby, A. M. Daffodils, narcissus, and how to grow them . . . 235 p., 32 pi. New 
York. 1907. 
7 Sydenham, Robert. All about daffodils and narcissi. Ed. 3. 14-1 p., 4 pi. Birming- 
ham, Eng. 1913. 
8 Royal Horticultural Society. London. Daffodil Nomenclature Committee. Classified 
list of daffodil names. 83 p. 1916. 
