BARR'S HARDY DAFFODILS, THEIR ARRANGEMENT AND CULTURE. 
3 
r Ihis is what Mr. William Itobinson said about Daffodils and their adaptation, in 
his Paper at the Conference on Hardy Flowers, Chiswick, July 7 and 8, 1891. 
“ The most, important of all early flowers is the Narcissus. Five years ago I planted many thousands in the 
grass, the most important being the Star Naroissus (N. incomparabilis, &c.) in great variety. They have thriven admir- 
ably, flowered well and regularly, and the flowers are large and handsome. In open rich heavy bottoms, along hedge- 
rows, in quite open loamy fields, in every position I have tried them. They are delightful when seen near at hand, 
and also effective in the picture. Good results could be obtained with the finer kinds of Narcissi by wood walks and 
open copses, which abound in so many English country places. With the common English, Irish and Scotch 
Daffodils I have had good results, thriving better, and flowering much handsomer than the wild plant— not uncommon 
m Sussex and many other parts of Euglaud. The Tenby Daffodil is very sturdy aud pretty, and never fails us. A 
very delightful feature of the Narcissus meadow gardening is the way great groups in succession follow each other. 
When the Star Narcissi (N. incomparabilis, &c.) begin to fade a little in their beauty, the Poets' Narcissi follow, 
and as I write this paper (m May) we have the most beautiful picture I have ever seen in cultivation. Five years 
ago I cleared a little valley of various fences, and so opened a pretty view. Through this runs a streamlet, aud we 
grouped the Poets' Narcissus near it, and in a little orchard that lay near, aud through a grove of Oaks. We have had 
some beauty every year since, but this year the whole landscape was a picture, such as one might see in an Alpine 
valley ! The flowers were large and beautiful when seen near at hand, and the efleot in the distance was delightful." 
CULTURE, ADAPTATION, Etc., OF THE DAFFODIL. 
Daffodils are the most graceful and beautiful of all hardy Spring flowers; they have for centuries adorned our 
gardens, aud withstood uninjured our severest winters better than any other flower of spring. 
For beds, mixed borders and shrubberies, the Daffodil surpasses all spring flowers in beauty and for general effect 
and when it is naturalized in orchards, woodland walks, sloping banks, meadows, margins of lakes and ponds, the* 
enect is superb. All Daffodils may be naturalized, but the strong growers make the finesi display, and include such 
sorts as Emperor, Empress, Horsfieldii, many of the white trumpet varieties, all the Incomparabilis, Barrii, Leedsii, 
Backhousei, Nelsoni, Bernardi, Tridymus, Odorus, Burbidgei, Poetieus, etc. Many sorts which do not thrive iu 
gardens will succeed naturalized, and we advise that those kinds which do not take kindly to garden culture be 
removed to the orchard, meadow or hedgerow. In such places the noble flowers of the Daffodil are seen to great 
advantage. The slender aud dwarf-growing sorts, Nanus, Minimus, Juncifolius, Triandrus, Corbularias, Cycla- 
nuueus, etc., do well on rockwork, aud select places in grass ; Minimus, Juncifolius, aud Triandrus are found wild in 
mountain pastures where the soil is shallow aud firm ; Corbularia aud Cyclamineus where the soil is soft and wet in 
winter and spring, but dry in summer. For culture under glass, 3 to G bulbs of the strong growing sorts cultivated 
m a pot, the effect is splendid ; of the dwarf growing kinds enumerated 6 to 18 bulbs in a pot give a fine effect, and 
charming as edgings. 
Daffodil flowers can he had from January to June, firstly, by planting early, in pots or boxes to force, and, 
secondly, by planting out-doors, in succession, from September to Christmas. These fate plantings give beautiful 
flowers m May. 
1 °^ t '? k f ' doors - the various k *pds of Daffodils form a natural succession. In mild seasons, N. Pallidus prfecox 
and N. Obvallaris flower early iu February, and are followed by others in succession. 
In arranging Daffodils for effect in the flower garden, or in potting up for indoor decoration, let it be borne in 
mind they form a natural succession, which is fully explained under the heading of each group, and simply noticed 
hereto draw attention to the fact. First, the Trumpet Daffodils are the earliest. Second, Incomparabilis, Barrii 
Leedsii, Odorus, Triandrus, Early-floweriug Poetieus, and Burbidgeis. Third, Nelsoui, Tridymus, Backhousei* 
Bernardi, and Jonquils. Focrth, Biflorus, late-flowering Poetieus and Burbidgeis, Schizanthes and Gracilis. In 
the middle season, representatives from all the groups may he found in bloom at the same time, therefore those 
who can make but one visit, should do so iu April. 
The Daffodils named in the following pages, comprise all the best sorts in commerce. They consist mostly of 
varieties we have introduced, raised by the late Mr. William Backhouse, and known as the “ Wcardale Daffodils ” 
also by the late Mr. Edward Leeds, and known as the “ Longford Bridge Daffodils." These New Daffodils became the 
property of Mr. Peter Barr, who classed and named them. A complete descriptive list of all Daffodils known to 
exist from the days of Parkinson to 1884- is appended to a brochure of the First Daffodil Conference, by F. W. B., und 
entitled “ Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl,” price Is. 
CULTURE AND ADAPTATION OUT OF DOORS. — The Daffodil may be grown in any soil aud situation, 
but thrives best iu a fertile well drained loam (a void manure as much as possible), and, in the warmer parts of Euglaud 
when possible, plant in a situation facing north or north-east, protected from north or north-east winds. In 
planting, the top of the bulb should be about two to three inches below the surface, according to its size ; in perma- 
nent beds, etc., summer flowers may be cultivated over the bulbs. For beds use the large-fiowering trumpet and 
Incomparabilis varieties, also Barrii, Leedsii, Nelsoni, Burbidgei, etc. ; for edgings, use the dwarf growing kinds, 
Cyclainmeus, Minor, Nanus, Minimus, Triandrus albus, Juncifolius, and Corbularias. 
• AND ADAPTATION INDOORS. — Use three to six bulbs of strong-growing sorts, according to 
size of bulb, for a 4 or 5-iuch pot ; 6mall-growiug kinds, such ns N. Minimus, Nanus, Minor, Cyclamineus, Triandrus, 
Juncifolius, and Corbularia, a greater number of bulbs should be used. These dwarf-growing, small-flowered species 
are most charming in pots. If Daffodils are grown for cutting early iu the season, plant thickly, in boxes of 
15 inches by 10, and 5 to 6 inches deep, using ordinary potting soil. The pots or boxes should then be placed out of doors, 
on a bed of ashes, and covered with .6 inches of the same material, or with cocoa fibre, if it can be had. The pots or 
boxes to remain out of doors till full of roots, and top growth has commenced. Portions may then be removed indoors, 
iu siiceessioii, to a moist forcing-house, and plentifully supplied with water, care being taken that the plants do not 
get drawn, from an insufficient supply of air. 
A selection of Daffodils for succession out-of-doors should consist of varieties from the 'three groups. The 
Trumpet and Corbularia Sections flower, one variety following the other, from February till May. The Nonsuch und 
the other hybrid sections begin flowering in March, and succeed each other till May. The Bnrbidge’s Daffodils, the 
Poet’s, the Bunch-flowered, etc., commence flowering early in April, and furnish a succession of blossoms till June. 
When grown under glass, all the Daffodils Jlower probablg a month earlier than the periods above named. 
Cut blooms of Daffodils are always acceptable, and are in abundance out-of-doors at a season when other flowers 
are scarce. They supplement and associate admirably with hot-house flowers. For upwards of twenty years, for 
three months in Spring, cut flowers from our collection of Daffodils have been exhibited at the various Loudou 
Flower Shows aud Fortnightly Meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, also at the Spring Flower Shows 
held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Crystal Palace, Royal Aquarium, and other places iu town and country. 
At the above-named places we have been awarded numerous Gold and Silver Medals, 
Prizes, Certificates, Votes of Thanks, etc. Our Grand Display of Daffodils at the Second Great 
Daffodil Conference, held April 15th, 1890, was awarded the ONLY GOLD MEDAL. 
12 and 13 King St., Covent Garden , 1894.] 
