DAFFODIL, OR NARCISSUS. 
9 
DAFFODIL, OR NARCISSUS. 
The most beautiful of all Spring flowers is the Daffodil, and its hardiness is beyond all question. The 
older kinds have withstood uninjured our severest winters for centnries ; and the new ones now offered have 
remained uninjured in the open ground during the late series of severe and protracted winters. Its blossoms 
withstand frost, snow, rain, and wind, longer than any other spring flower, aAd this was observed by Shakspeare, 
when he wrote — 
“ Daffodils, 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty.” 
THE ALDBOROUQH COLLECTION OF DAFFODILS, of which we are the fortunate possessors, is the 
most complete and unique set of hardy Daffodils ever brought together by an amateur, and exhibit in a most 
marked degree the industry and enthusiasm of their cultivator, the late lamented eminent horticulturist, the 
Rev. John Melson, of Aldborough Rectory. The collection is represented by nearly 150 sorts, embracing almost 
all the kinds known to amateur horticulturists of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, and to 
Salisbury, Sweet, Haworth, Herbert, and Baker of the present century, and in addition to these, the recent new 
hybrid varieties which rank in point of beauty with the magnificent orchids which have been brought into cultiva- 
tion within the last few years. These new hybrid Daffodils are the result of crosses between the different 
varieties of the Trumpet Daffodil and the varieties of Poeticus on the one hand, and the Trumpet Daffodil and 
Montanus on the other. Unfortunately, the gentlemen who produced such wonderful results, and made so many 
grand additions to a family already rich and varied, have left on record so little data, that we can but surmise 
how the work was accomplished. However, we know for certain that a cross between the Trumpet and 
Poeticus Daffodils gives Incomparabilis, Parkinson's Peerless Daffodil. Assuming, therefore, that this result 
is followed by crossing Incomparabilis and Poeticus, what is more natural to expect than Barri, which is simply 
a reduced Incomparabilis. Then again cross Barri and Poeticus, and we imagine the outcome would be 
Burbidgei, which is a Poeticus with the crown somewhat larger and retaining the colours of the first hybrid, viz.. 
Incomparabilis. The Eucharis-likc Daffodil, Leedsi, we think most likely a cross between Trumpet Albicans and 
Montanus. The most perfect of all hybrid Daffodils, viz., Nelsoni, would, we think, result from a cross between 
Trumpet Bicolor and Poeticus, or Macleai possibly assisted, as the Nelsoni’s are large forms of Macleai, the 
most perfect of miniature Daffodils ; besides the foregoing results in the production of hybrids there is amongst 
the new Daffodils of the Trumpet section great variety both in size and colour, which we conclude to be the 
result of seeding the varieties of the Magni-coronatse Group. 
A remarkable feature in many of these hybrid Daffodils is the strongly marked orange-scarlet crown, which 
we imagine would come from Poeticus Poetarum ; and others again have the crown dark yellow, light yellow, 
canary -ycilo-v, primrose, silver-white, and some apricot -coloured. The late Mr. Nelson raised a few seedling 
Daffodils of considerable character, and had he lived a few more years, he doubtless would have made 
valuable additions to this family. The Rev. Wolley Dod has for some years past been forming a collection of 
Daffodils. We hope he will bring some of his energy to bear on the hybridization of this family, and from his 
personal experience tell us how all these beautiful modern varieties were made. Two Coloured Plates of New 
Daffodils issued with The Garden represent some of the hybrids alluded to above, and those who are desirous of 
acquainting themselves with the interesting literature of the Daffodil, and the monographs which have been 
written of this family, should purchase Burbidge’s admirable work, which is beautifully illustrated, and written 
in a most charming style. 
“ It has been observed,” says Mr. Burbidge, “ that these beautiful Daffodils are never seen to better advan- 
tage than when planted on the moist margins of lakes and streams, or islands, where their golden nodding 
flowers contrast with the coerulean reflection in the limpid water below." 
This seems also to have occurred to Keates, who, in one of his beautiful poems, asks— 
“ What first inspired a bard of old to sing 
Narcissus pining o’er the untainted spring ?’* 
Shelley speaks of the Daffodils thus — 
“ And Narcissi, the fairest among them all, 
Who gaze on their eyes in the stream’s recess, 
Till they die of their own dear loveliness.” 
Wordsworth pays a graceful tribute to the Narcissus— 
‘ ‘ When all at once I saw a crowd 
A host of golden Daffodils, 
Beside the lake, beneath the trees, 
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” 
Culture and Adaptation. — The Daffodil may be grown in any soil and situation, but it thrives best in 
a fertile loam. In planting, the top of the bulb should be three to four inches below the surface ; but when it is 
planted in permanent beds, &c., and summer flowers are cultivated over it, we have known the roots in such 
cases planted at a depth of 12 inches. In beds the larger flowering Daffodils are charming, and for edgings 
the dwarf growing kinds are most beautiful. In flower borders and shrubberies groups of Daffodils look 
splendid. For naturalization in woodland walks, semi-wild places, on the margins of lakes, streams, and planta- 
tions, and also amongst grass, few hardy flowers look so natural and pleasing as the Daffodil. 
A selection, consisting of varieties from the three groups, gives a succession of flowers from February till 
June. The Trumpet Section of Daffodils flower in succession, one variety following the other from February 
till the end of April. The Nonsuch Section of Daffodils begin flowering in March, and succeed each other till May. 
The third group of Daffodils, the Poet's Narcissus, the Tazetta or Bunch-flowered Daffodils, &c., commence 
flowering early in April, and furnish a succession of flowers till June. 
Cut blooms of Daffodils are most elegant in vases, and are in abundance at a season when other flowers 
are scarce. They also supplement and mix admirably with hot-house flowers. For three months in Spring 
cut flowers from our collection of Daffodils will be exhibited at the various Spring Shows and Fortnightly 
Meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, also at the Spring Flower Show held at the Royal Botanic Gardens. 
Awards, etc., from the Royal Horticultural Society at sundry times for our Exhibitions of DAFFODILS. 
Two Gold Banksian Medals, One Silver Banksian Medal, One large Gold Gilt Silver Floral Medal, and 
several other Medals, with numerous Votes of Thanks and many Certificates for individual Daffodils. 
Also from Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, many Awards and Certificates. 
King Street , Covent Garden , 1883. J 
B 
