April i:. 1810. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
313 
S INCE the times of the old herbalists, or for something like 300 
years, Daffodils have been favourites amongst hardy flowers, 
nnd for a good portion of that time some of the chief types have 
been represented in our border plants. The fact that so many 
produce their flowers with the earliest harbingers of spring would 
alone have sufflced to insure them prominent attention. But in 
addition to that, their flowers, even of the oldest varieties, are 
distinguished by considerable beauty of form, and to this is added, 
in numerous instances, a delightful fragrance refreshing and never 
overpowering. When, therefore, amateur or professional gar- 
•deners turned their attention to the improvement of such plants 
the result could in a measure have been foreseen, though it is 
Boubtful if any of those who first engaged in the work adequately 
realised the character of the progress that would be effected. 
Had the admirers of the Daffodil—using that term as a 
general popular designation for the whole of the Narcissi—con¬ 
fined themselves to the introduction of species and varieties 
■found wild in other countries, the group would have been much 
more limited than it is at the present time. The genus Narcissus 
3S represented by its wild forms is not a large one by any means, 
including less than a score of well-marked species. These too are 
•comparatively local in distribution, being mainly confined to 
southern Europe. They are, however, extremely variable in a 
•state of nature, and intermediate forms have been found that 
■serve as connecting links between the species, due in some cases 
probably to hybridisation, and perhaps in others merely to seminal 
variation without the introduction of related species. We have 
recently inspected a large collection of imported Narcissi of the 
Ajax section, and it was extremely interesting to note the number 
of distinct forms corresponding to many that have already been 
named. 
This variability is one of the characteristics of the Amaryllis 
family, and when Dean Herbert applied himself to the study of 
hybridisation amongst the plants constituting that group, it was not 
surprising that the Narcissus should receive a share of attention. 
The result was, that in a number of experiments made by crossing 
the species, seedlings were obtained presenting characters so nearly 
■intermediate between those of the parents, as to leave no doubt 
that they were genuine hybrids. These were probably the first 
■definite attempts to improve the Daffodils, and the success achieved 
was suffi-ient to lead other experimenters in the same direction, 
•svith the result that considerable additions were made to the forms 
available 'or garden culture. It is only within the last twenty 
years, however, that the range of variation in the Daffodils has been 
fully demonstrated, and still more recently that the plants have 
attained to a high degree of popularity. The writings of Mr. J. G. 
Baker, Mr. F. W. Burbidge, and several amateur contributors to 
the horticultural Press, have assisted greatly in placing the Nar¬ 
cissus in a prominent position amongst hardy plants. Several 
nurserymen also have made specialties of the plants, have 
formed large collections, and by frequently exhibiting the flowers 
at the principal shows have familiarised the public with the soft and 
harmonious shades and gradations of yellow the varieties present. 
As in all cases where plants possess marketable value the effort 
to secure novelties has led to an influx of varieties which in some 
cases are so nearly alike that only the keenest connoisseur can 
No. 512.—VoL. XX,, TniBD Series. 
distinguish them. Recognising this dilficulty as one that was 
likely to retard the popularity of the plant the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society organised a Daffodil Exhibition and Conference 
in 188-1, with the special objects of at once displaying the characters 
of the Narcissus family, and by the help of a Committee to remove 
the confusion then rapidly increasing in the nomenclature, and to 
reduce the “ too-much-alike ” varieties to fewer types. Good work 
was effected in this direction, but the lapse of six years has 
provided the Committee with matters requiring further attention, 
and it was consequently resolved to arrange for another Exhibition 
and Conference in the present year. This was opened at Chiswick 
on Tuesday, and continues until Friday this week, and all who 
wish to see what has been effected in the improvement of the 
plant would find themselves well repaid by a journey to 
Chiswick. 
It is not only as a garden plant that the Daffodil has become 
of importance, the demand for the flowers has created an im¬ 
portant industry, and enormous quantities are now sent into the 
London and other markets during the spring months. Especially 
in the Scilly Isles has the business been developed, and of the 
200 tons of flowers which are said on good authority to be ex¬ 
ported thence annually Daffodils form a large proportion. From 
Franco and Italy also come early consignments, while to later 
supplies the home growers about the metropolis contribute largely. 
A visit to Covent Garden on a market morning in the early spring 
months, especially about Easter, shows conclusively how im¬ 
portant a position the production of Daffodil flowers for sale has 
assumed, and yet the trade has grown up entirely within the past 
few years. 
The strong points in favour of Daffodil flowers is that they 
last well when cut. With ordinary care in packing they travel 
safely, and they are in nearly every case exceptionally well adapted 
for arranging in vases or bouquets, or for other floral decorations. 
Some, like the simple and double forms of the Poet’s Narciss, are 
unrivalled amongst outdoor flowers for all purposes, even for button¬ 
holes, sprays, and wreaths. Still another point is that some 
members of the family can now be had for fully half the year— 
namely, from December to the end of May. Many are adapted 
for culture in pots, are forced early with little trouble, and then, 
last of all, they are cheap. There is, in consequence, no mystery 
about the popularity of the plants ; but it is to be hoped that 
reasonable restriction will be placed upon the introduction of so- 
called novelties, and thus avoid the bewilderment that amateurs 
are apt to experience when names are multiplied without attendant 
distinctions in the plants denoted. 
Over 500 seedling forms have received names, and may be 
found in trade catalogues, for the practice has been evidently 
followed in some cases of naming nearly every seedling raised in 
which the smallest character could be discerned as a distinction. 
Where it is desired to form collections as large as possible these 
may all be worthy of a place, but those who can only provide space 
for limited number the most distinct only are suitable. It is dis¬ 
appointing to find a supposed novelty so much like others already 
in our care that they can scarcely be distinguished except by a 
most careful examination. It is probable that between 600 
and 700 names have appeared at different times, but there are at 
least 500 that have been set down as distinct. Of these 200 are 
included in the N. pseudo-Narcissus group. Of the N. incom- 
parabilis and N. Tazetta groups there are perhaps 200 together 
while of the three hybrid types Leedsi, Burbidgei, and Barri 
there are fifty each. 
One purpose for which Daffodils are admirably adapted has not 
been noticed—namely, for planting in turf on slopes, or under, 
trees. In such positions they are seen to the best advantage, and 
for several weeks past the mound near the Cumberland Gate of the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, has been gay with the thousands of Daffodils 
there planted. In scores of similar places, where few other plants 
No. 2168.— VoL. LXXXH., Old Series. 
