BARR & SONS, 12 & 13, King Street, Covent Garden, London. 
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CULTURE, ADAPTATION, Etc., OF THE DAFFODIL 
For beds, mixed borders and shrubberies, the Daffodil surpasses all Spring; flowers in beauty and for general 
effect, and when it is naturalized in grass, in orchards, woodlands, meadows, on sloping banks, and margins of lakes and 
ponds, the effect is superb. All Daffodils may be naturalized out of doors. Many sorts which do not thrive when 
cultivated in gardens will succeed if planted out in the orchard, meadow, or on hedgerows, or grassy hanks sloping 
towards the north, and left undisturbed. In such places the noble flowers of the Daffodil are seen to great 
advantage, especially when associated with other spring flowers like Scillas, Chionodoxas, Snowdrops, Leucojums,. 
Muscaris, &c. The slender and dwarf-growing kinds, Nanus, Minimus, Juncifolius, Triandrus, Corbularias, 
Cyclamineus, etc., do well on rockwork and select places in grass; we can also recommend, in the case of 
these slender growing little Daffodils, carpeting the ground with close-growing and surface-rooting creeping plants, 
such as the Thymus Serpyllum varieties, Thymus lanuginosus, Herniaria glabra, etc,, these providing a 
natural protection for the little bulbs, besides keeping their dainty blooms from being splashed and soiled in 
rainy weather; Minimus, Juncifolius, and Triandrus arc found wild in mountain pastures where the soil is shallow 
and firm ; Corbularia and Cyclamineus where the soil is soft and wet in winter and spring. Mr. T. H. Burroughes, 
Stamford, has, since 1887, grown successfully Corbularia citrina as a semi-aquatic in milk pans and other contri- 
vances without drainage, sunk into the ground so that the tops of the pans are four inches below the surface. Peaty 
soil is then filled in to the level of the surrounding ground ; iu the upper four inches, which is always moist, the bulbs 
are planted and root into the lower soil, which should he perpetually wet. We recommend Mr. Burroughes’ culture, 
having followed it with success at our Nurseries. The bottom of a rock garden would also admirably suit, as the 
drainage from the rockwork would accomplish this without extra labour. Rev. Charles Watson, Largs, grows 
N. Cyclamineus with great success in moist loam under a wall facing the north-east. 
For pot-culture The Daffodil is invaluable, affording in early Spring a charming decoration for the greenhouse 
and sitting-room ; its flowers, with their delicate shades, form a pleasing contrast to Hyacinths and Tulips. 
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. The late pilantings flower in May. 
In arranging Daffodils for effect in the flower garden, or in potting up for indoor decoration, let it he borne in 
mind they bloom in natural succession, particulars of which are given under the heading of each group. First, the 
Trumpet Daffodils which are among the earliest, one following the other from February to May. Second, Incom- 
parabilis, Barrii, Leedsii, Odorus, Triandrus, Early-flowering Poeticus, and Burbidgeis, which begin flowering iu 
March and succeed each other till May. Third, Nelsoni, Tridymus, Backhousei, Bernardi, and Jonquils. Fourth,. 
Biflorus, late-flowering Poeticus and Burbidgeis, Schizanthes and Gracilis, which form a succession of flowers 
till June. In the middle season, representatives from all the groups may be found iu bloom at the. same time,, 
therefore, those who can make but one visit to our Bulb Nurseries at Surbiton should do so in April. When- 
grown under glass, all the Daffodils fiower j)robably a month earlier than the periods above named. 
CULTURE AND ADAPTATION OUT OF DOORS.— The Daffodil may he grown in any soil and situation, 
but likes best a good pasture loam, and, in the warmer parts of England, a situation should he chosen facing north 
or north-west, hut protected from cutting winds. The ammoniacal compounds in manure are poison to the Daffodils, 
and therefore should he avoided. Very poor soils may he rendered suitable by manuring aud taking a potato 
crop off, after which Daffodils may safely be planted, and, as a harmless and good stimulant, bone meal may bo 
mixed with the soil in the proportion of 1$ oz. to the square yard or 4 cwt. per acre. In planting, the top of the 
bulb should be two to three inches below the surface, according to its size; permanent Daffodil beds, etc., may 
he made gay during summer and autumn with many beautiful showy hardy annuals, which should he sown in the 
spring. For such beds use the large-flowering trumpet varieties, also Incomparabilis, Barrii, Leedsii, Nelsoni, and 
Burbidgei varieties ; for edgings, use the dwarf growing kinds, Cyclamineus, Minor, Nanus, Minimus, Triandrus 
albus, Juncifolius, and Corbularias. White Trumpet Daffodils ‘more especially thrive best in a shady situation. 
CULTURE AND ADAPTATION INDOORS. — Use three to six bulbs of strong-growing sorts, according to 
size of bulb, for a 4 or 5-incb pot ; of small-growing kinds, such as N. Minimus, Nanus, Minor, Cyclamineus, Triandrus, 
Juncifolius, and Corbularia, a greater number of bulbs should he used. These dwarf-growing, small-flowered species 
are most charming in pots (see “ Rock-Garden” Collections, page 7). If Daffodils are grown in quantity for cutting 
early in the season, plant thickly in boxes, 5 to 6 inches deep, and only just cover the bulbs with soil, using 
ordinary potting soil. The pots or boxes should then be placed out of doors, on a bed of ashes, and covered with 
0 inches of the same material, or with cocoa fibre, if it can be had. When the bulbs have filled the pots or boxes with 
roots, and made an inch or two of top growth, portions should he removed indoors, in succession, first of all to a 
cold frame or cool greenhouse, where they should remain for a few days until the foliage has attained its natural 
green colour, and then to a moist forcing house when a plentiful supply of water should he given and care be taken 
that the plants do not get drawn from an insufficient supply of light aud air. 
Barr’s Nurseries, Long Ditton, Surrey (Surbiton Station, S.W.R.). 
