April 17 , 1880. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
821 
termed, much of the beauty of the Daffodils is due, and it assumes such 
distinct forms that the characters thus furnished are a readily re¬ 
cognisable means of separating the species into groups. 
Three divisions of the genus are adopted, distinguished by the fol¬ 
lowing names: — !, Magni-coronati, in which the corona is “funnel 
shaped or cylindrical, and as long as the perianth segments,” which 
includes all the bold and handsome “ Trumpet Daffodils,” some of the 
finest of the whole genus for garden decoration, rich shades of gold 
predominating. 2, Medio-coronati, with a cup-shaped corona “ about 
half as long as the perianth segments,” comprising the numerous forms 
of the “ Peerless ” Daffodil, Narcissus incomparabilis, possessing a wide 
range in more delicate shades of yellow. 3, Parvi-coronati, having 
“ a small saucer-shaped corona,” including the charming graceful 
N. poeticus and its countless descendants, the purest white prevailing 
in the perianth divisions, while the corona often possesses in its margin 
the nearest approach to scarlet in the whole genus, bright shades of 
red affording a lively contrast with the quieter tints of the other 
sections. 
Under the three heads named sixteen species and a number of sub¬ 
species are grouped, the garden varieties and hybrids having assumed 
such numeral proportions that they are excluded from a botanical 
arrangement, though their positions in the system are easily indicated. 
It would be impossible within the limits of this article to glance even at 
the leading varieties of the respective types, and it would be unneces¬ 
sary also, as the most distinct and beautiful are enumerated in the 
report which follows. It may, however, be interesting to briefly note 
the species that really constitute the respective types from which the 
garden varieties have been derived. First in order under the “ large 
crowned ” Daffodils we come to the Hoop-Petticoat Narciss, N. Bulbo- 
eodium, in which the crown is extremely large and the colour ranges 
from soft yellow to pure white, as in the variety monophyllus (fig. 39, 
page 316). Next in order is the Trumpet Daffodil, N. Pseudo-Narcissus, 
the varieties and hybrids of which now constitute so large a group, 
mostly with very large coronas differing greatly in tint, but the richest 
golden tints are most frequent. There is, however, considerable range in 
size from the giant maximus to the diminutive minimus. Figs. 40 and 41, 
pages 316 and 317, indicate the chief characters of this species. Under 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus are now ranked as sub-species several forms that have 
been assigned a higher rank by older authors. These are muticus, a 
neat flower and good colour ; the graceful and interesting cyclamineus so 
long lost to cultivators ; major, to which spurius and Telamonius are 
related ; minor, together with nanus and minimus ; bicolor, a fine type, 
including Horsefieldi and Empress ; moschatus, with deflexed flowers, 
and including some of the best white Daffodils such as albicans and 
the drooping cernuus. 
With the graceful N. triandrus the “ medium-crowned ” section 
commences, and the beautiful variety albus (fig. 42, page 319) is one 
of the greatest favourites in the genus, being admirably adapted for 
culture in pots. The N. incomparabilis forms follow, and in the excep¬ 
tionally large variety Sir Watkin (fig. 43) we have a near approach to 
the N. Pseudo-Narcissus forms. The variety albus expansus (fig. 44, 
page 322) is one of the ordinary type of this group. N. odorus and 
N. juncifolius are other species in the same group, but the latter is not so 
well known as the former, which takes its place as the Campernelle in 
many gardens, and is one of the most esteemed of the fragrant Narcissi 
for forcing purposes. 
In the “ small-crowned ” division the first to be noted is N. Tazetta, 
the “ Polyanthus Narciss,” which includes large numbers of varieties 
that have taken their place more amongst “Dutch bulbs ” for forcing 
than as outdoor garden plants. N. papyraceus (fig. 45, page 323) is regarded 
as a sub-species, and is one of the most familiar of market flowers early 
in the season as the old “Paper White” Narciss. The species Tazetta is 
geographically interesting for its comparatively wide range of dis¬ 
tribution, as it is found from Europe to China and Japan. Historically 
it is also worthy of note as one that has been under cultivation during 
a number of years in Holland for export to this and other countries 
with the ordinary bulbs for forcing. N. intermedins, a South 
European species, and N. gracilis are old plants, but have been to a con¬ 
siderable extent superseded by newer favourites. N. viridiflorus is a 
curiosity from Morocco and Gibraltar, with green flowers. The Jonquil, 
N. Jonquilla, with small golden exquisitively fragrant flow'ers, is one of 
the most delightful members of the family, and is everybody’s 
favourite. 
Passing N. serotinus, N. elegans, and N. biflorus as species of com¬ 
paratively little interest, though the last named is sometimes found in 
old gardens and flowers freely, we come to the Poet’s Narciss, N. poeticus 
(fig. 46, page 323), of which the varieties now form a large group, and 
few amongst the market flowers are more appreciated than the double 
or Gardenia flowered variety of this species, though all are valuable. 
The last to be enumerated is N. Broussoneti, which is chiefly interesting 
as one that had long been lost in cultivation, but re-found at Morocco 
and introduced in recent years. 
The Hybrids. 
Following these the hybrids come under eleven groups, some of 
which in distinctness of characters almost deserve 'specific rank. Most 
of these are of recent production, but those raised ty Dean Herbert are 
especially interesting as the forerunners of many more recent favourites, 
and as showing some of the leading characters of the types subsequently 
formed. Seven of these were depicted in the “ Botanical Register ” for 
1843, when Dean Herbert accompanied the descriptions with a 
account of his experiments in hybridising the Narcissi. Two of these 
have been sketched, and are shown in figs. 47 and 48 (pages 326 and 327). 
The hybrid (fig. 47) resulted from crossing the wild Yorkshire Daffodil, 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus with N. poeticus, and was regarded by Dean Herbert 
as a variety of the N. incomparabilis type. The flowers had white perianth 
segments, and a yellow corona bright red at the margin and base. In 
fig. 48 is shown another hybrid also from a variety of N. Pseudo-Narcissus 
crossed with N. poeticus, in which a pale yellow tint predominated 
throughout the flower, the corona having a slightly darker hue. 
The others showed various degrees of intermediate characters between 
the species named. Dr. Leeds of Manchester and Mr. W. Backhouse of 
Darlington succeeded in raising a large number of hybrids, and since 
these have been placed in commerce several additional types or groups 
have been created. The following are adopted in Mr. Baker’s classifi¬ 
cation :—N. Bulbocodio-Pseudo-Narcissus, a wild hybrid found near 
Oporto, intermediate between the species as expressed in the names; 
N. Humei, apparently from N. Pseudo-Narcissus and N. poculiforniis 
(itself a probable hybrid); N. Backhousei, from N. Pseudo-Narcissus 
and incomparabilis ; N. Macleai, an introduced plant apparently 
between N. Pseudo-Narcissus and N. incomparabilis; N. juncifolic- 
muticus, wild, between N. juncifolius and N. triandrus; N. poculi- 
formis, already noted, origin uncertain ; N. Leedsi, from poculiforniis 
or incomparabilis, a beautiful group of which there are many forms in 
cultivation; N. Barri, from N. incomparabilis and N. poeticus,some of the 
varieties as N. Barri conspicua are very handsome with highly coloured 
coronas ; N. orientalis is thought to be from N. incomparabilis and 
N. Tazetta ; N. Burbidgei, from N. incomparabilis and N. poeticus, com¬ 
prises a number of beautiful varieties; and N. Tazetta-poeticus is 
probably from the species named in its title, as it is found growing wild 
amongst them. From N. Humei, N. Backhousei, N. Macleai, N. Leedsi. 
N. Barri, and N. Burbidgei the principal recent garden varieties have 
been obtained, and they include some of the most graceful and soft 
tinted forms in cultivation. Some scores of these have been named and 
