BARR’S HARDY DAFFODILS AND THEIR STORY. 
3 
Hardy Daffodils, Daffadillies, Daffodowndillies. 
(NARCISSI.) 
G§P” Naming Cut Specimens of Daffodils, see Par. IX., Special Notices, page 2. 
Terms on which Cut Specimsn flowsrs of Daffodils are supplied, see Par. X., Special Notices, page 2. 
The Daffodil is the most beautiful of all hardy Spring flowers, and the most popular ; it has for centuries 
adorned our gardens, and withstood uninjured our severest winters. Its blossoms suffer less from frost, snow, 
rain, and wind, than any other spring flower, and Shakspeare must have observed this when he wrote — 
“ Daffodils, 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty." 
For filling beds and planting in groups in mixed borders and shrubberies, no flower of spring can com- 
pare with the Daffodil, and when naturalized in woodland walks, or forming large groups in grass, or planted 
on sloping banks, the effect is splendid. All the strong growing Daffodils are adapted for naturalization, 
including such sorts as Emperor, Empress, Ilorsfieldii, Moschatus varieties, etc. ; their noble or chastely- 
coloured flowers, in such situations, are seen to great advantage. The slender and dwarf-growing sorts, such 
as Minor, Nanus, Minimus, Juncifolius, Triandrusalbus, Corbularias, Cyclamineus, etc., could he naturalized 
on rockwork, and in almost all mountainous districts, on slopes facing the south. For culture under glass, 
in pots, the Daffodil ranks with the Hyacinth, and when 3 to 6 bulbs are grown in a pot, the effect is 
very fine. 
As a cut flower the Daffodil is unsurpassed, and greatly prized where cut flowers are required in 
quantity. Daffodils are now in general use for ladies’ dresses, for bouquets, and filling vases, alone or 
associated with other flowers. 
The flowers of Daffodils can be had from January to June. Those required for decoration in pots 
during January or February, should be potted up as early as possible, and receive the same cultural treat- 
ment as the hyacinth. When the Daffodil is forced for the cut flower, the bulbs should be planted thickly, 
in boxes about 15 inches by 10, and 5 to 6 inches deep, the boxes placed out of doors and buried in cocoa 
fibre, there to remain till the plants are sufficiently advanced for forcing. See Cultural Directions , page 5. 
Out of doors the various kinds of Daffodils form a natural succession. In mild seasons, N. Pallidus 
prcecox and N. Obvallaris flower early in February, and these are followed by others in succession, till the 
double white Gardenia-flowered Daffodil closes the season about the end of May. N. Asturicus, a form 
of N. Pallidus prxcox, found by Mr. Barr in Spain, 1887, flowered this year, two weeks before N. Pallidus 
prcecox ; and another species we have named N. Poujastou Blond dore, flowered nearly a week in 
advance of N. Pallidus prcecox. The other new species, N. Santa Maria, Calvas Yellow, Oporto 
Yellow, and the Grasse Daffodil, came into flower with N. Obvallaris ; N. Lusitanicus flowered four 
days later. Successional plantings of Daffodils will also give successional flowering of specific sorts. For 
example, w r e often cut Trumpet Daffodils at the end of May, from plantings made in a partially shaded 
place, in December and January. 
In arranging Daffodils for effect in the flower garden, or in potting up for indoor decoration, it is well to 
bear in mind that they form a natural succession, which is fully explained under the heading of each group, 
but is here noticed to show which groups flower together, as follows : First, the earliest are the Trumpet 
and Triandrus varieties. Second, in succession, flowering together — Incomparabilis, Barrii, Leedsii, 
Odorus, Early flowering Poeticus, and the Burbidgei type. Third, in succession, flowering together — 
Nelsoni, Tridymus, Backhousei, Bernardi, and the Jonquils. Fourth, in succession — Biflorus, late- 
flowering Poeticus, Burbidgei varieties, Schizanthes orientalis and Gracilis close the Daffodil season. In 
the middle season, representatives from all the groups may be found in bloom at the same time. 
The New Daffodils offered in the present issue are distinguished by *, ** and ***. Those'Daffodils which 
have been awarded First Class Certificates are distinguished by . The raising of New Daffodils 
is the work of many years ; and the amateurs who raised the new daffodils marked with *, ** and * ## , have 
passed from our midst, but have left behind them glorious memories, not of ephemeral productions, but 
“ things of beauty,” that will enrich English flower gardens for centuries, as the older Daffodils have done 
from remote periods. Those who desire to know more of the Daffodil than is recorded in these pages, 
will find in 11 Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl" (price ir.) much to interest them in the literature, poetry, ami 
hybridization of Narcissi. Purchasers of Daffodils to the value of 21s. and upwards, will have enclosed 
in the package a copy of “ Ye Narcissus or DaJJodyl." In The Gardeners' Chronicle, 31st March, there is 
figured a Group of Twenty-seven Trumpet Daffodils, mostly belonging to the two-coloured section, 
sketched and arranged by Miss Agnes Barr. 
The varieties of Daffodils or Narcissi enumerated and described in the following pages, comprise all 
the finest sorts in cultivation. They are for the most part new varieties, which we have been introducing 
annually, of the hybrids and varieties raised by the late Mr. William Backhouse, and the late Mr. Edward 
Leeds. The new sorts indicated with *, * * and *** were arranged and named by Mr. Barr, and 
the names afterwards revised by the Committee, appointed for that purpose, at the Daffodil Conference, 
held 1st April, 1884, under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
igg- .TWO Separate Lists of Daffodils have been prepared for this Catalogue— 
The First List embraces only the highest class flowers, and the most distinct varieties. 
The Second List includes those we have large stocks of, and are offered at greatly reduced 
prices to those who plant extensively for cut flowers, under glass, or out of doors, and those 
who desire Daffodils for naturalization. 
The woodcuts are simply intended to show what is meant by the terms Magni Coronati, Medii- 
Coronati, and Parvi- Coronati, and except that of N. Pallidus prtecox, and perhaps that of N. Obvallaris, 
represent the flower much reduced from natural size. 
The Daffodil Conference of 1884 gave a great impetus to the general cultivation of the Narcissi, and 
stimulated a growing desire which existed amongst amateurs, to ascertain the history of those ancient varieties 
of Daffodils, which were cultivated in gardens, before we had distributed the beautiful new hybrids and varieties, 
