October 6, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
287 
COMING EVENTS 
Hi 
6 
Th 
Crystal Palace Hardy Fruit Show (three days). 
7 
F 
8 
s 
9 
SUN 
18th Sunday after Trinity. 
10 
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ll 
To 
Royal Horticultural Society—Fruit and Floial Committees at 11 A M. 
IS 
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DAFFODILS IN POTS. 
HE value of Daffodils for pot culture or for 
the general embellishment of the conservatory 
or greenhouse in the early months of the year 
has been much overlooked in late years. It is 
strange, too, that while the showier varieties 
have been lost sight of the Polyanthus section, 
which include all those bunch-flowered forms 
that are, strictly speaking, varieties of 
Narcissus Tazetta, have been grown and forced for 
■their flowers. Very desirable, certainly, are some of 
•these varieties, notably the Paper White, Narcissus 
Tazetta var. papyraeeus, so extensively employed by 
■bouquetists, but in reality are not to be compared with 
the great number of good and useful Daffodils which 
from a decorative standpoint are in their way unique. 
For the conservatory, from January to April and May, 
Daffodils may be had, and in the latter months abundantly 
out of doors, and while they embrace so much variety, 
5ind come in such succession, they may be had without 
much difficulty. Before proceeding further it may be well 
4o explain the best method of growing them in pots 
for early flowering. Those who would have a supply 
of Roman Hyacinths to bloom early—say from December 
1st onward to Christmas—would of course procure the 
bulbs as early as possible in autumn, and pot and plunge 
them in the ordinary way out of doors, so that they 
may make a plentiful supply of roots which will enable 
them to endure the heat to which they will be subjected 
by-and-by. A great deal of the after success depends 
on this alone, and it applies with equal force to Daffodils 
and Narcissus when similarly grown. Pot the bulbs 
•early, and any soil that will suit Tulips, Hyacinths, 
Fuchsias, and the like will suit the majority of the Nar- 
•cissuses. Stand them out of doors on an ash bed, and 
cover with 6 inches depth of similar material, in which 
they will be safe for some time to come. The length of 
time they should remain will depend on the varieties ; for 
instance, N. pallidus prsecox, quite a general favourite, 
may, without forcing, he had in flower in January, when 
Chrysanthemums and many other winter flowers are on 
the wane, then such a one would be not only useful but 
very welcome. In mild winters and favoured localities 
this Daffodil has flowered previous to Christmas, and in 
more frequent cases in January out of doors. The treat¬ 
ment for this one, then, is a frame from which frost is 
excluded, and if it is needed for successional plants some 
may be on the north side of a pit or frame and others in 
the frame. The same treatment will be found to answer in 
the case of N. scoticus, which brings up the succession, 
and is nearly allied to the first named in general aspect 
and form. 
No. 380 .—Yol. XV., Third Series. 
For a variety with bold, sturdy, golden cup for 
flowering in February we cannot have a better one than 
the Tenby Daffodil, R. obvallaris. This is without doubt 
one of the best of all for pot culture and forcing; it is 
grown by tens of thousands for Covent Garden Market, 
is highly appreciated, meets with a ready sale, and is 
always admired. It is specially adapted for pot culture 
owing to its vigorous and sturdy habit, so that it does not 
require sticks to keep the foliage in its place, which for 
some, particularly the varieties of N. incomparabilis, 
that grow taller and with more slender leaves, are 
needed to keep them from presenting a ragged, neglected 
appearance. This variety may be had in January if 
potted early and introduced into heat, which should be 
slight at first, about the middle of December, increasing 
it after a fortnight or so; but at no time will it be 
necessary to give it more 1 than a temperature of 50°, 
that is if any value be placed on the bulbs afterwards. 
Another reason apart from the safety of the bulb here¬ 
after, why I do not advise any strong heat to be given 
them is, that being grown as cool as circumstances will 
permit, the flowers last a much longer time when expanded 
than they do if hurried along in strong heat. There is 
little need for this if the successional varieties be taken 
in hand as I shall recommend, and worked on judiciously; 
but if flowers must be had at any risk, as they must in 
many establishments, then my advice is to get the com¬ 
monest varieties possible, the loss of the bulbs ol which 
will not be serious, and pot them at the end of July, so 
that no chance will be lost for their making a start as 
soon as ready, and such as these may be had in flower at 
Christmas if plenty of heat be at hand, and after bloom¬ 
ing they will be fit for throwing away. Do not attempt 
placing them in strong heat for a moment unless you are 
fully convinced that abundance of roots have been made, 
or the chances are that you will fail in getting them to 
flower. 
Among the earliest I must not omit Corbularia con- 
spicua, the Golden Hoop Petticoat Narcissus, which is 
exceedingly free-flowering and effective with its flowers 
issuing from its tuft of grassy leaves. It is a pretty 
flower, and being cheap should be grown in quantity. It 
is very pleasing in the conservatory as a margin, alter¬ 
nating with Maidenhair Ferns, but it cannot endure much 
heat, at least such is my experience of it. Then, for 
varieties to bring up the succession we must look to the 
more diminutive N. nanus, so charming for fringing the 
.stage in the greenhouse, while N. minor is a larger form 
much in the same way. Following these we find in the 
forms of N. spurius a series of bold and character¬ 
istic flowers, many of which are exceedingly handsome 
and far too valuable to be tampered with in heat. The 
type, however, is sufficiently cheap and plentiful to allow 
of its free but judicious use in pots/and included with this 
may be the major form, also N. spurius Henry Irving and 
Golden Spur. These two latter are grand additions, the 
last especially so; the flowers of this are large, rich 
yellow, with a bold broad lip, expanding trumpet, much 
larger than the better known N. maximus, and altogether 
more vigorous. I consider this, with the N. spurius 
coronatus, the two giants among the grand Trumpet 
Daffodils. These two, if grown ia pots, should have 
plenty of room, and only be given frame protection till 
they are more plentiful than at present, as giving them 
much heat materially damages the bulbs, and they do not 
recover under two, and in some instances three years. 
I cannot but call attention to one of the best, yet one 
No. 2030. —Yol. LXXVIL, Old Ser es. 
