2 
BARR’S Gold Medal DafFodils, 1901. 
Extract from “The Westminster Gazette,” April 24th, 1901. 
“A GARDEN OF ENGLAND. 
“ The svidden bursting in upon us of a late spring has put the parks and gardens in and around London 
within the space of a single week into a green, flower-embroidered gown of marvellous freshness. The pear 
and plum trees are wrapping themselves in the lace veils of their white blossom, and beneath them everywhere 
the golden trumpets of the daffodils are held up. A walk through the park shows what beautiful effects can 
be obtained by the massing together of these, the finest of spring flowers. But even the parks are as nothing 
compared to the sight which just now may be seen in the Bulb Gardens at Long Ditton, where Messrs. Barr 
and Sons have some millions of daffodils in full bloom. A fortnight ago the grounds looked bare and wintry ; 
one day a twinkling as of the first stars in the evening sky was noticed as here and there a clump of daffodils 
began to flower. Next day thousands and tens of thousands of buds blossomed out, and just now and for the 
next week these twenty acres of green and gold will be one of the most attractive corners in rural England. 
There are single beds in which ten thousand yellow daffodils are all turning their heads to the sun. There are 
daffodils so large that the ordinary wild daffodil of the northern fells and woods looks a veritable pigmy by their 
side. Of these we may mention the splendid ‘Emperor,’ ‘ Sir Watkln,’ ‘Lord Aberdeen,’ and many others. 
Agin, there are new daffodils, worth twenty guineas a root; ‘Peter Barr’ is one of these, named after the 
venerable founder of the firm, who has spent a long life in searching for new varieties of daffodils, and has 
preached the gospel of beauty, as represented by the narcissus, for over sixty years. One of the latest additions 
to Messrs. Barr’s collection of six hundred varieties of daffodils is a large, clear yellow flower, ‘Lord Roberts,’ 
and another quaintly pretty flower, is the ‘Apricot,’ the trumpet of which is of a delicate apricot tint. We 
note, in connection with Messrs. Barr's output of narcissi, that not only have they added two gold medals this 
season to their ‘ honours,' but that at ne.arly every important spring flower show they have received the Royal 
Horticultural Society's highest award, 
“ One of the most fascinating spots in this fascinating flower garden is that where a gurgling stream winds 
through a rock garden, where all manner of sprouting things promise a blaze of flowers. The kingcups and 
marsh marigolds are already out, and of daffodils there are whole colonies, which, nodding at their own 
reflection in the water, remind one of the ancient myth of Narcissus the beautiful, who, for his vanity, was turned 
into the flower to which his name has clung ever since. 
"It is no wonder there are, or seem to be, more birds singing around this golden garden in Surrey than 
anywhere else, for no other piece of ground can equal this, which lies among the orchards and pasture-lands, 
for unique loveliness. Anyone who likes to go and see this ‘ show’ can do so in half an hour’s time by taking 
a train from Waterloo to Surbiton, and visitors are always made welcome in this wonderland of spring flowers, 
which reminds you of Haarlem and Leyden when the famous Dutch bulb gardens are in flower. But Holland 
has only dunes for a background to its bulb gardens, while down at Long Ditton they are only a part of a county 
in full bloom." 
Extract from “The Gardener’s Chronicle,” May 4th, 1901. 
“DAFFODILS, EARLY AND LATE. 
" The nurseries presented such breadths of yellow colour of many shades, that it would be idle to attempt 
a description of the scene, unless the standpoint be from the comparative degree ; and we say that of the many 
fine displays we have seen at Messrs. Barr & Son’s establishment, this was the richest. But there is a very 
obvious disadvantage attending such a prodigal display, for we have to make up our minds to a very short 
season of bloom ; and Herrick’s lines will be unusually appropriate— 
‘ ' ‘ Fair Daffodils 1 We weep to see 
You haste away so soon.’ 
"There was little time to be lost in moralising, however, for visitors were entering at every gate to see the 
fleeting picture, and so with Mr. Barr we hurried off to see the expensive treasures that at present are carefully 
protected from damaging winds bv lath-made walls. On our way there was the pretty little Narcissus triandrus 
albus, upon some stonework. The double-white Arabis near to it, also upon some stonework, was flowering very 
strongly ; it is a capital plant, and as many hardy plant growers may not have obtained it yet, our note may be 
useful. By this time our attention was directed to the fine new yellow trumpet Daffodil King Alfred, already 
seen at some of the exhibitions ; 'Weardale Perfection, a superb bi-colourcd trumpet, still very rare ; and the 
lovely pale-coloured Madame de Graaff, with an ample rim to the trumpet, and which is not surpassed by any 
modern variety of the same type. All these have been figured in our columns. Messrs. Barr’s new variety of 
the Poet’s Narcissus ’ Glory’ is a very fine one, being large in size, unusually pure in its whiteness, and having 
a richly coloured crown. A new white trumpet Daffodil of large size has been named after Peter Barr, who at 
the age of seventy-five has just left the New Hebrides, and hopes to travel from Cape Town to Egypt by land, 
beside having many other adventures before coming home. Next was Lord Roberts, the new yellow trumpet 
variety already referred to in these columns; it has short, broad, somewhat pale-coloured segments, and rich 
trumpet with good lip. N. Leedsli ’ Maggie May’ is a delightful flower, and although we have seen it many 
times, may not be described as common whilst the bulbs remain at the price of twelve to fiftem guineas 1 
Incomparabllls Gloria Mundl has a very rich orange-coloured cup ; and Glory of Leiden, which is the last of 
the rarities we will mention, might almost be termed a ’ starer,’ for its bold, rich, yellow trumpet does not ' nod,’ 
but looks upward. , j „ 
’ ' We can only dwell momentarily among the beds out of doors, however much we would like to do so. Stella 
superba, a bicolor of the incomparabilis section, was marvellous, and Mr. Barr says it is a capital grower ; 
Duebess of WestfWster (Leedsli), John Bain (Burbldgel), very suitable for naturalising in grass ; Frank Miles, 
excellent for the same purpose, owing to its pretty ’ winged ’ appearance ; the well-known Emperor and 
Empress ; Mrs. Langtry (Leedsli), with a yellow ring on the cup ; Bay Smith, a yellow trumpet variety, with 
broad, glaucous foliage ; Hume’s Giant, and Victoria, were among the most noteworthy varieties in this 
extensive collection. Victoria is not only one of the new and valuable trumpet varieties, but it is very suitable 
for forcing purposes, being earlier than Horsfieldi, and following Golden Spur. Then there is Lucifer, an 
incomparabilis variety, raised by Mrs. Lawrenson ; its rich, orange-scarlet-colourcd cup is one of the most 
remarkable developments of colour in the whole genus Narcissus. 
“We cannot close this note without a reference to the gorgeous Tulips, including T. Greigii, that helped 
to make the nurseries so gay ; nor the Flyacinths, and especially the Grape Hyacinths, that formed such panels 
of blue. Such a graceful scene as Muscari conicum (Heavenly Blue) makes upon a hedge-bank which has 
been planted with this variety, is one that must remain ever in our memory," 
