BARR & SONS, 12 & 13, King Street, Covent Garden, London. 
3 
A FEW SPRING NOTES ON BARR’S DAFFODILS, 1897. 
Extract from “ The Garden,” April 3rd, 1897. 
DAFFODILS AT LONG DITTON. 
The splendid collection of Daffodils io the nursery of Messrs. Barr aud Sons, Long Dittou, is now in full beauty, 
and an excellent opportunity is given of comparing and seeing the many beautiful forms in cultivation. Space at 
present is too limited to enter into details, hut wo may mention that a collection plainly labelled has been arranged, 
so that visitors can compare readily the various types and note distinctions between them. One can get some idea 
of the extent of the Daffodil growing when it is mentioned that there are upwards of forty long beds devoted to the 
uow popular Barrli conspicuus, a remarkably robust aud graceful kiud, its yellow flowers relieved by a bright orange 
cup. Amongst the seedlings were some very promising forms, such as Madame Plemp, a noble Daffodil, rich yellow 
trumpet and bold broad creamy white segmeuts j (ilorv of Leyden, Weardale Perfection, Golden Queen, a very 
handsome variety of the maximus type, with broad, rich yellow trumpet and segments of similar colour, and 
Snowflake, a lovely white Daffodil, strong and free. We may draw attention also to the collection of Dog's-tooth 
Violets ami Fritillaries now in bloom.” 
Extract from the “Daily News,” April 6th, 1897. 
A GREAT DISPLAY OF DAFFODILS. 
** It has been a trying season for florists, for after a long period of excessive rain bas come a time of nipping cold, 
and in the stead of genial sunshine there have been shrewd winds that do not favour early growth. That, of course, 
is a remark that applies generally, for in the case of Daffodils and other bulbous flowers some very fine things have 
been produced this spring in spite of adverse circumstances. Messrs Barr and Sons, the well-known growers of 
Daffodils at Covent Garden and Long Ditton, have at the latter place acre upon acre of these splendid golden flowers 
in the utmost perfection of bloom. It says much indeed for the skill with which specialists proceed that Daffodils 
can be made to endure so long. By planting at the proper season there may be obtained even in the early days of 
tebruary such a good variety as the Cyclamineus, one of the earliest of all Daffodils, followed by Pallidus prsecox, 
Princeps, and tho Tenby Daffodil, a fine flower found growing wild iu Wales. With these and other kinds can 
a succession of the choicest blooms he maintained right down to the flowering of the Pheasant’s Eye Narcissus, 
iu May. Ihat covers a period of nearly four months, beginning with the very first buds of winter and continuing 
till the floral season of the summer is well nigh at its height. Of course to do all that requires a little knowledge aud 
care. Our representative put the point to Mr. Barr, who explained how much one could do by the proper preparation 
of the soil and the careful selections of ‘ sorts * to be growu. For situation, a slope with a north-west aspect is particu- 
larly good. As 10 varieties, there are certainly many to choose from. For Daffodils have been brought from Spain, 
Portugal, Holland, Ireland, Wales, and elsewhere, and either by introductions from abroad or hybridising at 
home there are at least two or three hundred kiuds to choose from. To grow them is a study and a hobby. 
Mr. Barr was good enough to point out some of the leading varieties and their differences, taking those now at their 
best. There was the Emperor, a flower of a beautiful soft primrose hue. The Empress, beside it, was distinct iu 
Laving white petals with a trumpet of deep yellow. Mrs. Langtry, again, is a Daffodil of white bloom, known as 
free flowering and a strong grower, a kind which auy one might plant with advantage. Minnie Hume, close by, is 
much more widely expanding, und is creamy in colour. Maximus is perhaps the fullest yellow of all Daffodils, but 
not the freest flowering. J. B. M. Camm has a wonderfully fine trumpet, making it one of the prettiest Daffodils 
grown, while Mrs. Camm is known as a slighter and a whiter flower. A very distinct variety, too, is the William 
Goldring, as all the petals hang over the trumpet, which is white, aud in its graceful bend is likened only to the 
swan’s neck. The Victoria is a new variety introduced this season, its characteristics being a very large trumpet 
and very large petals, the trumpet being yellow and the petals of au ivory tint. Barrii Conspicuus, again, is a 
very wide-spreading flower, the edges of the cup being tinted with orange-scarlet, aud it is said that this flower 
lias a peculiar power of lasting long in water. The small Sulphur Hoop Petticoat Daffodil makes a decided contrast, 
the sulphur indicating its colour and the drooping hoop its shape. Santa Maria rejoices iu long corkscrew-like petals. 
Sir Watkin is a fine large flower that towers high; and C. J. Backhouse claims to possess the deepest orange 
trumpet that there is. Queen of Spain is a bright sulphur yellow Daffodil that flowers freely, aud a great thing 
with amateurs, remains in bloom for an exceptionally loug period Weardale Perfection is said to be the largest 
Daffodil growu, and John Nelson is widely knowu as a beautiful yellow flower with a peculiarly flue trumpet. 
These varieties, it will be seen, are all distinct, but they do not by any means exhaust the list, aud Messrs. Barr are 
ever adding new ones.” 
For hints on Culture and Adaptation of the Daffodil, see page 0. 
