BARR’S HARDY DAFFODILS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
9 
BARR’S HARDY DAFFODILS, DAFFADILLIES, DAFFODOWNDILLIES. 
BST Naming cut specimens of Daffodils, see Paragraph 5, Special Notices, page 2. 
Sending cut specimens of Daffodils ,, „ 6 „ ,, , , 2. 
The hardy and beautiful Daffodils or Narcissi enumerated and described in the following pages comprise 
all the finest sorts in cultivation. They are for the most part New Hybrids and Varieties which were raised 
by the late Messrs. William Backhouse and Edward Leeds. These new Daffodils we have been gradually 
distributing, as stock permitted, for the last few years, each year malting important additions. All new Daffodils 
have an *, all re-introduced Daffodils have two **. The new English Daffodils were arranged and named by Mr. 
Barr, and the names finally revised and confirmed, or changed by the Committee appointed for that purpose at 
the Daffodil Conference, held 1st April, 1884, in the Large Conservatory, South Kensington, under the auspices 
of the Royal Horticultural Society. In “ Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl f piice is., the transactions of the Daffodil 
Conference are duly reported with a comprehensive descriptive list of all Narcissus that were on record from the 
earliest times to 1884. The name of the raiser being appended to each of the new Daffodils. 
Purchasers of Daffodil bulbs to the value of 10/6 will be presented with a copy of “ Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl.” 
The Daffodil Conference of 1884 gave a great impetus to the more general cultivation of the Narcissi, and 
stimulated the 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 any of the beautiful new hybrids and 
varieties raised by the late Messrs. William Backhouse and Edward Leeds. These older Daffodils consisted of 
only a portion of the species described in ‘‘Haworth's Monograph," and a natural desire arose to hunt up 
all the other species, especially those which lie had recorded from descriptions or woodcuts of ancient authors. 
In “ Ye Narcissus or Daffodyl ," published 1884, there is a comprehensive list of the Daffodils at that 
time in cultivation ; also of those described by Haworth, but not in cultivation. Since 1884, some of these 
missing Narcissi have been re-introduced, and some new discoveries made, while a much more general 
knowledge of the habitats of Narcissi is now possessed than at any past period, so that the researches of a very 
few more years will reveal to us all that can be learned of wild Narcissi. 
To George Maw, Esq., we are very greatly indebted for his discoveries, and at no distant date we may 
expect from him a Narcissus Monograph, a companion to his splendid Crocus Monograph. To E. N. Buxton, 
Esq., we are indebted for the re-introduction of the small White Narcissus Moschatus, and the discovery of a 
hybrid— Muticus x Juncifolius. To Rev. C. Wolly Dod, a most industrious and painstaking investigator, we 
cannot be too grateful for contributions to the literature of the Daffodil, as also for the results of his researches 
in the Pyrenees, etc. We might give the names of many other workers in England, but amongst these we 
shall simply mention the name of our friend, Mr. Burbidge, whose works will ever show his interest, in as much 
as he inscribed “ Daffodil" on his banner when a very select few identified themselves with this flower. 
Alfred W. Tait, Esq. , of Oporto, is entitled to our homage for the re-introduction of N. Cyclamineus, a 
great rarity, and which was designated by Dean Herbert as an impossible plant ; also for the discovery of 
N. Johnstoni and other species of Narcissi ; besides some very rare hybrid Narcissi, the parentage of which has 
yet to be determined, but supposed to be Corbularia x Triandrus, and Ajax x Corbularia. He is also to be 
thanked for his free-handed liberality, in giving away all the hybrids he found, and freely distributing the 
species of Narcissus he collected ; and not only this, but he has opened up wide fields for investigation which 
he has himself explored, and by the information he freely imparts, and the assistance he is ever ready to afford, 
has given a great impetus to research after wild Daffodils. 
In the spring of the present year he invited a number of gentlemen to Oporto, and arranged to explore 
with them North-Eastern Portugal and North-Western Spain. Only one of the party— viz. , our Mr. Barr — was 
able at the period fixed to go, and he was hospitably entertained at Mr. Tait’s house, and many journeys were 
made around Oporto, Braga, and on the Gerez Mountains. Mr. Barr then continued his explorations through 
some of the Northern Provinces of Spain, and spent some weeks exploring the French and Spanish Pyrenees, 
visiting the home of the pure White Daffodil, N. Moschatus. Here in the lower valley he found the plants of 
various heights and the flowers of different sizes, and the bulbs large and small, and he is of opinion, amongst 
these there will be found N. Cernuus, N. Tortuosus, and other interesting varieties. In the higher valley the 
flowers appeared uniform in size, and corresponded to the woodcut in Parkinson, ror, Fig. 4 (N. hispanicus, 
fl. albo minor), but a little larger (the woodcut is evidently not full size) ; these may prove to be N. Moschatus (the 
lesser Spanish White Daffodil), Haworth. Mr. Barr found in North Spain another White Daffodil, which may 
prove of some importance ; he also found N. Minimus, many N. Corbularias, and many Ajax, etc., some of 
which we offered in our Midsummer List, and again on page 48 of this Catalogue, “Collected Daffodils." 
Mr. Barr also visited the home of N. Bernardi, and collected some of the bulbs. 
To assist amateurs in making their own selections of these hardy and beautiful spring flowers, we have 
arranged them in groups representing distinct features in the formation of the flower. Therefore it is only neces- 
sary for the purchasers to select from each group to secure representatives of the family. 
Culture and Adaptation. — The Daffodil may be grown in any soil and situation, but it thrives best in 
a fertile loam, and in the warmer counties of England, in a situation facing the north. In planting, the top of 
the bulb should be two to three inches below the surface, according to the size of the bulb ; but when in 
permanent beds, etc., and summer flowers are cultivated over the bulbs, plant at a depth of six inches, and 
choose the strongest growing Daffodils for the purpose. In beds the large flowering Daffodils are charming, 
and for edgings the dwarf growing kinds, such as Cyclamineus, Minor, Nanus, and Minimus, are most 
beautiful. In flower borders and shrubberies, groups of strong growing Daffodils look splendid. For 
naturalization in woodland walks, semi-wild places, on the margins of lakes, streams, and plantations, and 
also amongst grass, no hardy flower looks so natural and pleasing as the Daffodil. 
Culture and Adaptation Indoors. — If for decoration, use three to five bulbs in a 5-inch pot, if for 
cutting, plant the bulbs 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, which is preferable, if it can be had. The pots or boxes should 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. 
Cut blooms of Daffodils are always 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 are exhibited by us at the various Spring Shows and Fortnighdy 
Meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, and the Spring Flower Shows of the Royal Botanic and Crystal Palace. 
IST Daffodils last Spring scededwith unusual freedom at Tooting, and seed was saved in considerable variety. 
Those who desire Daffodil seed from our Collection can have a mixed packet for Autumn sowing at is. or 2s. 6 d. 
King Street, Covent Garden, 1887.] B 
