338 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEXER. 
[ April 24, ISOO. 
greatest attention and greeted with much applause. Mr. Walker said 
that if at the last Conference in 1884 they were justified in estimating 
the number of Daffodils cultivated in this country at 10 mill ions they might 
safely assume that now there are 200 millions of bulbs. The question is, 
Will they continue to pay, as they are increasing so rapidly? There had 
been a fall of quite .dO per cent., and last year some were sold as low as 
lid. per dozen bunches of a dozen flowers each, though it must also be 
said that the price had been as high as 12s. for the same number. Large 
quantities are now imported from the Scilly Islands, the South of 
France, and the Channel Islands, and there are supplies in the market 
from the end of January until the middle of May. 
Reverting to the best varieties for market culture he said that it 
would be more convenient to take them in the order of the schedule 
list. Class 1 (Corbularia), class 7 (Triandrus), and class 9 (Gracilis, &c.) 
would be excluded. Commencing, therefore, with class 2, Yellow 
Trumpet Narcissi, he considered Emperor in size, substance, and colour 
one of the best ; Maximus is a fine deep yellow ; Golden Spur, Countess 
of Annesley, Tenby, Spurius, and Edward Leeds, all being approved for 
supplying flowers in large quantities. In class 3 (the bicolors) all the 
varieties are good, but he preferred Empress because it increases faster, 
every offset flowers, and the flowers last longer. Horsefiekli is also a 
valuable variety, but he gave it the second place, though in a discussion 
which followed some preferred that variety. Class 4 was devoted to 
the sulphur and white varieties of the Ajax type, and Mr. Walker 
stated that these are always a drag in the market, the flowers are soft and 
do not stand well. He named Mrs. F. W. Burbidge and cernuus pulcher 
as two of the best. Class 5, the incomparabilis family, is a large one, 
and much sifting is required to secure the best market varieties. Sir 
Watkin is of robust constitution, a bold flower and most useful. A 
capital companion is Lady Watkin ; Gloria Mundi and Princess Mary are 
also good; Barri Conspicuus, Maurice Vilmorin, and W. Ingram ; Duchess 
of Westminster, Madge Mathews, Gem, and Minnie Hume being selected 
from the Barri and Leeds! type. In class 0 the only forms of market 
value are those Included under Nelsoni. In c'ass 8 of the poeticus 
group ornatus is the foremost in all respects, with poetarum and 
vecurvus for sucuession. The Burbidgei varieties are not popular, but 
Constance, John Bain, and Mary might be grown in a limited collection. 
The Campernelle N. odorus and the variety rugulosus are both useful. 
Amongst the doubles he specially mentioned the double N. poeticus, 
which be said he had never succeeded in forcing, and it was at times 
apt to go blind. Summarising the points with regard to the selection 
of varieties, Mr. Walker said it was important to secure large flowers, 
decided colours, and those that will last well. 
In describing his method of culture which has been previously 
given in this journal he remarked that some varieties require much 
heavier soil than others. In 1881 he planted a bed of Daffodils in strong 
loam ; after two years Capax and cernuus plenus had disappeared, while 
Emperor and Empress had increased fourfold. He also observed that 
what may be termed garden varieties generally needed a liberal supply 
of manure in the soil ; for others it was not employed. The land is 
ploughed, harrowed, and rolled in preparation for planting, which is 
regulated by a drill. The bulbs are lifted, dried, and cleaned, and he 
starts planting in August with N. poeticus ornatus, all planting being 
finished in September. The flowers are gathered before they expand, 
and placed in vessels of water under g'ass or in sheds, and some 
judgment is required to gather the flowers at the right stage. With 
annual lifting and planting, close attention to business, and hard work, 
there was no need to fear competition. 
The Chairman complimented Mr. Walker upon his admirable paper, 
and in response to his invitation to join in the discussion, Messrs. 
Jenkins and Fraser offered some remarks, to which the lecturer replied, 
and the meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the Chairman, 
readers of papers, and the exhibitors, pioposed by the Rev. W. Wilks, 
who, in referring to some remarks respecting the difference in the 
quality of the flowers shown by nurserymen and amateurs, said that the 
quantity relatively grown made the difference, for whi'e the amateurs 
had ten plants, perhaps the nurserymen had 10,000, and he asked if it was 
not much easier to cut a dozen flowers from the latter number than the 
former ? He believed that with equal facilities amateurs would always 
hold their own. The vote was carried unanimously, and the Conference 
terminated, but the Exhibition was not closed until the following 
afternoon. 
Amongst the varieties that merit special notice we have selected two 
for illustration this week, which are very distinct in character. Fig. 49, 
page 337, represents one of the Ajax section named Madame de Graaf, 
which is included amongst these -‘registered” by the Narcissus Com¬ 
mittee. It belongs to the white or sulphur coloured section, and has 
a Large flower of most elegant shape, either white or with a sulphur tint 
in the corona that is equally pleasing. 
The other, fig. 51, page 34.5, is named Queen Sophia, and belongs to 
the incomparabilis group. It has pale yellow or sulphur perianth 
segments, and a much deeper coloured spreading and frilled corona, the 
tint being a bright shaded orange, verging in red. Both varieties are of 
good constitution and distinct in their respective classes. 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
I HEREWITH send you prospects of wall fruit here as indicated by the 
amount of flower on the various trees. This garden is divided into two 
divisions, and the No. 1 division is about 20 feet higher than No. 2, 
which may account for the somewhat variable character of the flower¬ 
ing of the trees, and in No. 2 the trees are all younger and soil slightly 
stiffer. We have a IG feet border around the wall, and at the base of 
the wall I annually put a good dressing of ashes, which not only makes 
it more pleasant to walk upon, but materially assists the fertility of the 
trees. Orchard trees are looking well. I will send notes on them next 
week. 
South Wall, 1st Division.—Apricot Moor Park, under average ; 
May Duke Cherr}', one mass of flower ; Early Orleans Plum, ditto 
Doyenne du Comice Pear, good show, average ; Comte de Lamy Pear, 
average show ; Kirke’s Plum, average ; Ne Plus Meuris Pear, average ; 
Winter Nelis Pear, average ; Transparent Gage Plum, one mass of 
flower ; Moor Park Apricot, under average ; Glou MorQsau Pear, none ; 
Jargonelle Pear, very fine show ; Autumn Bergamotte Pear, good 
Reine Claude de Bavay Plum, average ; May Duke Cherry, full of 
flower ; Bigarreau Cherry, ditto ; Apricot Kaisha (set), average ; Marie 
Louise Pear, average. 
West Wall, 1st Division.—Principally Plums Victoria and Magnum 
Bonum, of which there is only a very moderate show of flowers. 
East Wall, 1st Division.—Doyennd d’Etd Pear, good show ; Pitmaston 
Duchess Pear, good ; Beurrd Diel Pear, average ; Easter Beurrd Pear, 
average ; Williams’ Bon Chrfitien Pear, very full. Plums and Currants 
and Gooseberries on this wall have an average show of blossom. 
South Wall. No. 2 Division.—Fig Brown Turkey promises well ; 
Apricot Kaisha, bad ; Peach Stirling Castle, under average; Apricot. 
Moor Park, average ; Royal George Peach, average set ; Apricot, average, 
set ; Waterloo Peach, average ; Dymond Peach, under average ; Marie 
Louise Pear, good show ; Knight’s Monarch Pear, scarce!v any ; Crassane 
Pear, fair show; Glou Mor9eau Pear, one mass of flower; Nec Plus Meuris- 
Pear, average. 
East Wall, 2ad Division.—Plums : Victoria, under average ; Golden 
Drop, under average ; Jefferson, under average ; Kirke’s, none ; Jefferson,, 
one mass of bloom, and are two weeks earlier than last year. Pears r 
Citron des Carmes, one mass ; Louise Bonne, ditto ; Autumn Berga¬ 
motte, average ; Winter Nelis, very little ; Louise Bonne, average p 
Doyennd du Comice, few but fine ; Marie Louise, good ; Citron des 
Carmes, one mass ; Josephine de Malines, under average ; Jargonelle, 
good show. Morello Cherries on north wall promise well. 
West Wall. 2nd Division.—Pears Williams’ Bon Chretien, average- 
show ; Comte de Lamy, average ; Louise Bonne of Jersey, a picture 
(this tree measures 30 feet by 10, and from which last year I gathered 
2 bushels of fine fruit) ; Forelle, average show ; Thompton’s, average j. 
Winter Nelis, good ; Duchesse d’AngoulGme, one ma.ss of flower ; 
Catillac, ditto ; Nec Plus Meuris, average ; Marie Louise, average ; 
Doyennd du Comice, averaie ; Golden Drop Plum, above average show ; 
Kirke’s Plum ; Glou Mor^eau Pear, average; Beurrd Giffard Pear, 
owing to having been removed the blooms were picked off ; Williams” 
Bon Chretien Pear, average ; Winter Nelis Pear, scarce any. 
North Wall, 2nd Division.—Catillac Pear, good show. The trees 
on this wall are principally late Plums, which are showing very scantily, 
but each tree has a few dozen flowers. In this district I find the 
Victorias do not bear heavy crops annually. Bush Plums have lost their 
blossom owing to the severe frost experienced on March 24th.—W. 
Cook, ComiJUm Bassett Gardens, Caine, IFi^Av. 
SPRING FLOWERS AT HOME AND ABROAD, 
No. 2.—Hyacinths and Tulips. 
{^Continued from ])age SISA 
With the whole stock of the largest growers in Holland under 
requisition for furnishing material with which to compose the fine prize 
groups an opportunity such as rarely occurs is provided for a comparison 
and selection of the best varieties. The following were noted as 
amongst the finest of those shown at Haarlem, and it will be seen that 
many of them are old favourites with us, while others are less- 
familiar. La Grandesse was shown in splendid condition, and this 
beautiful Hyacinth may be classed as one of the best of the pure 
whites. The bells are very largo, and in good examples so closely 
furnish the spike as to form a broad compact truss. It is nob 
a dear variety, and everybody should grow it. Anna is another 
charming variety of very much the same character, though not so well 
known. Madame Van der Hoop has larger bells of great substance^ 
but the truss is not quite so good as in the two other whites named. 
Dr. Windthorst is a new white of considerable beauty, with a remark¬ 
ably well-furnished and symmetrical truss, and is well worth looking 
after for exhibition purposes. Amongst the shaded white or blush- 
coloured varieties Princess Amalia holds a very high place. The le’ls 
are large and of good substance, the truss compact, and the colour a 
very pleasing soft blush tint. This is a really charming Hyacinth.. 
Grandeur a Merveille is a better known variety of somewhat similar 
character with large bells and truss, cheap and useful. The remarkable 
examples of the new variety Jacques have been previously alluded tov 
One of these measured 10 inches by 4^, and though having the fault 
of being a little loose, it is without doubt a striking and effectivs 
Hyacinth. 
Turning to the pink and rose section, we have in Gigantea a very 
handsome and useful variety, usually throwing a good spike under 
ordinary cultivation, and very fine for showing ; it is also cheap. Noble 
par Mdrite, pale pink, is one of the best of the doubles, having a moro 
compact truss than the majority of them possess. Le Grand Concourant;. 
