400 
( May 17, 1888. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
packing material being employed ; a piece of paper only is laid over 
the bottom and- sides of the box, and the flowers are covered in a 
similar manner after the boxes are filled. The flowers are stood in 
pots of water until wanted. If it is desired to hasten their expan¬ 
sion they are placed on shelves in a lean-to greenhouse ; and if, on 
the other hand, it is necessary to retard their development they are 
placed in a cool d-aik shed, where they remain perfectly fresh for 
some time if they were not too advanced when gathered. Cutting 
the flowers at the right time is an important point, and to 
accomplish this the beds have to be frequent y examined, the boys 
cluefly employed in this work being soon trained to recognise the 
exact stage at which the flowers must be gathered. 
Though there are only twenty-four acres at Whitton, the ground 
is so closely cropped that a surprising quantity of Daffodils and 
other flowers is obtained. The varieties at Ham have already been 
note ], but a much larger colleciion is grown at Whitton, represent¬ 
ing the most distinct forms in all the sections, the special qualities 
and characters of which Mr. Walker points out with the exactness 
and enthusiasm of a connoisseur. Commencing with the large 
trumpet varieties some grand beds of N. bicolor Empress, Horsefieldi, 
and grandis are seen—a most valuable stock of these fine Daffodils. 
Another grand variety. Emperor, is similarly well grown, and it is 
found that this and Empress succeed much better in the heavier 
soil at Whitton than they do in the sandy soil at Ham, while the 
reverse is the case with Horsefieldi, which prefers a light soil, though 
it is not very particular in this respect. As a large light yellow 
variety in this section Emperor is far ahead, while as a dark yellow 
a similar ) lace is accorded to maximus, a finely proportioned 
flower of rich colour. With a good stock of Horsefieldi, Empress, 
and grandis, a constant supply of floweis extending over a month 
is obtained, as they expand in the order named, though Empress is 
cut before Horsefieldi is exhausted. These are all represented by 
strong plants, which produce three and four large flowers to each 
bulb. Other beautiful varieties of the trumpet type that are 
reliable, distinct, and of good habit, are the following, named nearly 
in the order of their flowering. The Tenbj' Daffodil (X. obvallaris) 
and Troilus, which are very hardy and endure exposure to wind, 
sun, and rain admirably ; Ard-righ, Henry Irving, and Golden 
Spur are useful, the last named being a particular favourite. 
Captain Nelson and J. G. Baker are notable for their finely formed 
flowers. Dean Herbert, J. Walker, M. Foster, J. B. M. Camm, 
and Mrs. J. B. M. Camm are also amongst the best of the group. 
To what are termed the hybrids, such as the Leedsi, Barri, 
Backhousei, Nelsoni, and Burbidgei varieties, numerous beds are 
devoted, and some exciuisitely beautiful forms are included of the 
most delicate tints. To enumerate all that possess distinctive 
merits would make a large catalogue, but a few were noted as the 
best amongst the best. Nelsoni aurantius has a fine expanded 
crown, orange with a reddish tint; William Wilks, one of the 
Backhousei type, has a white perianth and large gold crown ; 
Leedsi amabilis is very free, five to six flowers to a bulb, the 
perianth white, with a long creamy tinted crown ; Leedsi Beatrice 
has a white perianth and short creamy crown which gradually 
becomes white ; Leedsi Minnie Hume, a charming variety, delicate 
yellow crown and white perianth ; Leedsi Mrs. Langtry, white 
perianth and creamy yellow crown ; Leedsi Duchess of West¬ 
minster, veiy handsome, white i erianth and pale 5 elIow crown, 
and a large well-formed flower. Band conspicuus and the graceful 
Burbidgei fonns are all worth attention. 
White Daffodils are in demand, and a large stock is grown, 
precedence being given to cernuus, but cernuus pulcher, Niobe, 
Colleen Ban n, Leda, Mr.«. F. W. Burbidge, Mrs. Thompson, and 
Dr. Hogg are handsome, though some of these are a little delicate. 
In the interesting paper recently read before the Horticultural 
Club by Mr. Walker, he remarked that, “• Of the hybrids the two 
I find the most difficult to grow and multiply are Dr. Hogg and 
J. G. Baker. I do not know who is responsible for naming these 
two weak varieties after two gentlemen possessing so much—what 
shall I call it?—fibre, grit, or will ; but I have a strong opinion 
that there should be some trace of the qualify of the individual in 
the flower. As an instance of this incompatability, Mr. Barr, in 
his book of 188.d, has a single incomparabilis fhat Ire calls Wel¬ 
lington : now imagine an incomparabilis with a flimsy perianth and 
called Wellington.” 
The N. incomparabilis varieties are most numerous, and even 
the greatest enthusiasts in Daffodil culture admit that there are too 
manj'. A few only are grown exteiisiveljq and the best of these 
were noted at the Ham Farm. Of N. poeticus, ornatus, recurvus, 
grandiflorus, and poetarum are chief varieties. 
In the paper just noted Mr. Walker referred to an interesting 
subject, the reversing or change of characters in varieties when re¬ 
moved to different soil. In regard to N. pallidus prajcox he says :— 
“ It will be found that there are not two flowers alike ; it seems as 
if each one was a seedling, whereas the flowers of our Tenby 
variety are all so much alike fh.at it would lead one to suppose they 
had all originated from one bulb. It may be worth our while to 
inquire if we obtain any of our varieties from reversions. I for 
one believe that we do ; some persons are of the contrary opinion. 
It may be very difficult to get direct and trustwmrthy evidence on 
this point, although strong circumstantial evidence can be produced. 
I believe a change rarely takes place in the progeny of bulbs of 
one's own growing, but rather from bulbs received from outside 
sources that have been grown for a long time in soil altogether diffe¬ 
rent in its nature from one’s own. It would seem that it is when the 
bulb receives a violent change the old blood is set a-going. Mr. 
Dixon’s opinion about Sir Watkin is that the bulbs he received in 
1884 had been grown in the same place for quite eight or ten years. 
Those I obtained were planted in soil that had been broken up- 
about two years previously, and had been meadow land for a long 
course of time. When they had flowered in 1885 we had one flower 
with an orange cup, which we call Lady Wynn. The same may be 
said of Mrs. Thompson, which I contend is a sport from cernuus 
pulcher. I have no doubt that the bulbs grew in the Aldborough 
Rectory garden from the time Leeds’ collection was divided until 
the time of Mr. Nelson’s death. It would appear that the ^eater 
length of time the bulbs are grown in one place, before being re¬ 
moved and planted in soil of a different nature, the greater th& 
change that is likely to take place.” 
MiscELL.VNEors H.viiDY Flowers. —Though Daffodils are such 
a great specialty at these farms, they by no means have exclusive 
possession and attention. For instance, herbaceous Pmonies are 
cultivated in large quantities for cutting, and a selection of lOO 
named varieties, carefully reduced from all those obtainable, fill a 
series of large beds, and yield numbers of their showy flowers- 
during the summer. Pyrethrums are similarly extensively repre¬ 
sented, while Irises, German, Spanish, and English, are grown by 
thousands. Yellow Crown Imperials are flowering now, and the 
Turban Ranunculuses, w'hich are grown in four colours, yellow^,, 
orange, scarlet, and white, are evidently thoroughly at home in long 
beds, where they remain throughout the winter protected only by a 
layer of litter on the surface. Tulipas of the Gesneriana an<i 
retroflexa types occupy much space, while of Liliums there is a 
grand stock both of L. candidum and L. testaceum ; long rows of 
these two species under the fruit trees will yield a bountiful supply 
of their pure white and buff coloured flow-ers. The useful white 
Gladiolus Colvilli The Bride is another feature, and seems to be in 
the most vigorous health, while at the present time Doronicum 
caucasicum is yielding a profusion of its fine yellow' flowers, the- 
much taller and stronger Doronicum Harpur Crewe, w-hich grow'S at 
Whitton to the height of 4 or 5 feet, being also expanding its flowers. 
Poppies and numerous other flowers aie included to extend the 
supply and increase the diversity, but the principal features have 
been noted. 
Fruit. —The greater portion of the Whitton Farm is really an- 
orchard of Apples, Pears, and Plums, with Gooseberries between- 
the row's, and so closely cropped is the ground that enormous 
supplies must be obtained. The Gooseberries are vigorous fruitful 
bushes that are subjected to no systematic pruning beyond thinning 
the growths where too thick, or removing old exhausted shoots. 
Some thousands of bushes of Lancashire Lad are grow-n, and this 
variety is especially esteem.ed for market gardens where land is 
heavily rented, as owing to the erect compact growth of the bushes 
they can I e planted closely together, and they do not encroach very 
much on the space between the rows ; moreover, the variety is very 
prolific. A few- rows of Crown Bob are also grown, but in some 
districts this is almost exclusively relied upon. Between the lines 
of Gooseberries are rows of Lilies and Doronicums or AVallflowers,. 
and in the more open spaces are Lilies of the Talley in large 
quantities, the Victoria and Wallis’s varieties being the favourites. 
The former is much earlier, and is W'ell advanced now, a consider¬ 
able difference being noticeable in this respect between the two 
varieties, though they are equally fine in the size of spikes and 
flowers. Several houses, pits, and frames are devoted to Straw¬ 
berries, 5000 plants of Sir Charles Napier being grown. These ar& 
now flowering or setting their fruits, and are promising a most 
abundant crop, which w'ill come in at a time when such fruits bring 
a most remunerative price—namely, after the main stock of early 
forced Strawberries is exhausted, and will come in advance of the 
outdoor crops. 
It will be gathered from the remarks in this and the previous- 
article that Mr. Walker has developed an extensive business of a 
somewhat novel character, but this has only been accomplished by 
the most untiring energy, Avell directed enterprise, and hard work. 
From three o’clock in the morning until ten o’clock at night makes 
a long day, yet that is the routine at this ‘time of year and until the 
season for lifting the bulbs arrive.s. That, again, is a busy and 
important period, then follows planting, and after that a little 
leis'Jie. To carry on a business of this kind in face of the com- 
