which had been made by Mr. Leeds, of Manchester ; next, he acquired 
the Backhouse collection from Darlington. He was considered, as 
he proudly tells you, daffodil mad. When he persistently went on 
exhibiting his unpopular goods at the flower shows the scoffers 
christened him “ Yellow,” and other dreadful names. He persevered, 
however, until yellow flowers became popular, and when, under the 
high-priesthood of Mr. Oscar Wilde, they became the rage, Mr. Barr 
at length had his reward, and the daffodil became the prized and 
popularjplant which it is at the present moment. Witness the “ Daffodil 
Conference ” sitting this month, one of whose committees is especially 
devoted to the difficult question of naming varieties between which 
the uninitiated can scarcely detect any difference at all. It is 
whispered that in the excitement caused by rival claims strong 
passions are sometimes excited and strong language used. A somewhat 
romantic episode has been revealed this year in connection with the 
subject. In an old herbal written about 250 years ago a daffodil is 
mentioned under the name of Narcissus cyclaminius, which is said to 
have been obtained from the Peninsula. A picture of the flower is given, 
and till this year nothing else remained to show that the plant had existed 
in England. It had died out and disappeared. This year, however, the 
lost daffodil was re-discovered in North Portugal, the flower being found 
exactly to correspond with that figured by the Jacobean botanist, and 
there is every probability that the reintroduced species will after its long 
banishment once more appear in English catalogues. 
The votaries of the daffodil are probably more numerous than those 
of any other flower, and this for several reasons. First, it can be cul- 
tivated in a very small space of ground. — Mr. Waterer requires three or 
four hundred acres to display his rhododendrons at Woking, while 
Mr. Barr’s collection of daffodils, numerically more extensive, is easily 
contained in two acres — and there is no garden too small, and, we may 
add, no purse too slender, for the acquisition and cultivation of these 
beautiful flowers. Secondly, with few unimportant exceptions they 
require no glass or artificial heat, and they can be grown in window 
frames, or even in glasses like hyacinths. Thirdly, they are invaluable 
for decorative purposes when cut ; they travel safely as buds and come 
out in water even better than on their original plants. Finally, English 
literature abounds with references to the daffodil tribe, and there is 
scarcely a single British poet who does not mention them under the 
various names of daffadowndillies, chalice flowers, Lent lilies, jonquils, 
or narcissi. Notwithstanding the hideous surroundings of the place, a 
half built-up suburb of the most unlovely description, there are few spots 
near London which for tho next fortnight will be better worthy of a 
visit than the flat deep-soiled field which, more than any other place in 
the world, deserves the appellation of the home of the daffodil.” 
BARR & SON, 12, King St., Covent Garden, W.C. 
©5“ Illustrated Daffodil Catalogue free on application. 
