4 
BARR’S HARDY DAFFODILS, THEIR ARRANGEMENT AND THEIR CULTURE. 
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, and withstood uninjured our severest winters better than any other spring flower, 
" Daffodils 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty.” 
For growing in beds, mixed borders and shrubberies, the Daffodil surpasses all other flowers of 
spring, when naturalized in orchards, woodland walks, sloping banks, meadows, margins of lakes and 
ponds, the effect is splendid. All the strong growing Daffodils may be naturalized, including such sons 
as Emperor, Empress, Horsfieldii, many of the white trumpet varieties, also all the Incomparabilis, Barrii, 
Leedsii, Backhousei, Nelsoni, Bernardii, Tridymus, Odorus, Burbidgei, I’oeticus, etc. In orchards many 
sorts which do not succeed in gardens will be found to thrive, and we advise that all kinds which do not 
take kindly to garden culture should Ire removed to the orchard or hedgerow. In all such places the noble 
flowers of the daffodil are seen to great advantage. The slender and dwarf-growing sorts, Nanus, Minimus, 
Juncifolius, Triandrus, Corbularias, Cyclamineus, etc., do well on rockwork, and select places in grass ; Mini 
mus, Juncifolius, and Triandrus are found wild in mountain pastures where the soil is shallow and firm; Corbu- 
laria’and Cyclamineus where the soil is soft and wet in winter and spring, but dry in summer. For culture 
under glass, 3 to 6 bulbs of the strong growing sorts cultivated in a pot, the effect is splendid ; of the 
dwarf growing kinds enumerated 6 to 18 bulbs in a pot give a fine effect, and also make charming edgings. 
Daffodil flowers can be had from January to June, FIRSTLY, by planting in pots or boxes, ; SECONDLY, 
planting out-of-doors, in September ; and, thirdly, planting out-doors, in succession, from September to 
Christmas. The late plantings give beautiful flowers in May. To flower in January or February, in 
pots or boxes, the bulbs should be put in as early in the season as possible. 
Out-of-doors the various kinds of Daffodils form a natural succession. In mild seasons, 
N. Pallidus priccox and N. Obvallaris flower early in February, and are followed by others in succession. 
Amongst the new handsome Daffodils found by Mr. Barr, in Spain, N. Santa Maria is the richest 
orange-yellow known, and Johnstoni Queen of Spain, is a great beauty, being exceptionally elegant in 
form, and of a pleasing soft yellow. 
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 here to show which groups flower together. First, the earliest are the Trumpet Daffodils, and 
early-flowering Corbularias. Second, flowering together — Incomparabilis. Barrii, Leedsii, Odorus, Triandrus 
varieties, Early-flowering Poeticus, and Early-flowering Burbidgeis. Third, Nelsoni, Tridymus, Backhousei, 
Bernardi, and Jonquils. Fourth, Biflorus, late-flowering Poeticus, late-flowering Burbidgeis, Schizanthes 
orientalis and Gracilis. In the middle season, representatives from all the groups may be found in bloom at the 
same time, therefore, those wishing to see our collection, and can only make one visit, should do so in Afrit. 
The Daffodils enumerated and described in the following pages, comprise all the finest sorts in commerce. 
They for the most part are varieties we have been introducing annually for many years, having been 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. Barr, who arranged and named them, the names afterwards being revised by a Committee, appointed 
by the first Daffodil Conference, held 1st April, 1884. An account of the conference, with much valuable 
information, and the authorized list of Daffodils, will be found in “Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl,” by 
F. W. B. & P. B., price is. 
CULTURE AND ADAPTATION OUT OF DOORS. — The Daffodil may be grown in any soil and situation, but 
thrives best in a fertile well drained loam (avoid manure as much as possible ). and, in the warmer parts of 
England, when possible, they should be planted in a situation facing north or north-east, but protected from north 
or north-east winds. In planting, the top of the bulb should be about three inches below the surface, according to 
its size; but when grown in permanent beds, &c., where summer flowers are cultivated over the bulbs, plant an 
inch or two deeper, and use only the strongest growing Daffodils for such purposes, taking care the drainage, 
natural or artificial, is perfect. For beds, the large-flowering trumpet and Incomparabilis varieties of Daffodils 
are charming, and for edgings, the dwarf growing kinds, such as Cyclamineus, Minor, Nanus, Minimus, Nelsoni 
minor, Triandrus albus, Juncifolius, and all the Corbularias. The Corbularias, lift in July and replant in October. 
On the naturalization of Daffodils, see what Mr. Robinson says, page 3. 
CULTURE AND ADAPTATION INDOORS. — Use three to six bulbs of strong-growing sorts, according to size 
of bulb, in a 4 or 5-inch pot ; small-growing kinds, such as 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 in the season, plant thickly, in boxes 
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, in succession, and placed in 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 should consist of varieties from the three groups. The Trumpet and Corbularia 
Sections of Daffodils, out of doors, flower in succession, one variety following the other from February till May. 
The Nonsuch or Incomparabilis and other sections of hybrid Daffodils, begin flowering out of doors in March, and 
succeed each other till May. The Burbidge’s Daffodils, the Poet's Narcissi, the Tazetta or Bunch- flowered Daffo- 
dils, & c. , out of do.ors, commence flowering early in April, and furnish a succession of blossoms till J une. When 
grown under glass, all the Qdjfodils flower much earlier than the periods above named. 
Cut blooms of Daffodils are always acceptable, and are in abundance 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 London Flower Shows 
and 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 in town and country. 
Ijgj- 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 to 18th, 1890, was awarded the ONLY GOLD MEDAL. 
\_Barr and Sen, 
