Oyster 'bay, C. L D^lew %rk, 
NARCISSI 
or DAFFODILS 
The term Narcissus and Daffodil 
is interchangeable, although there ex¬ 
ists a tendency to apply the term Nar¬ 
cissi to the small-flowering groups like 
Poeticus, Leedsii, Barrii and Incom- 
parabilis; while the larger-flowered 
Trumpet varieties are most frequently 
referred to as Daffodils. 
The name “Narcissi” is derived 
from the story of the youth Narcissus, 
in Greek mythology, and in the lan¬ 
guage of flowers the Narcissus is the 
symbol of self-love and egotism. This youth lay down to drink from a stream and 
when he saw his own image reflected in the placid water he fell so madly in love 
with it that he pined away and died. Even after his death, while passing over the 
river Styx, he leaned over to get a look at himself in the water beneath. The 
nymphs implored the dryads to raise a funeral pyre for the purpose of burning his 
body, but the body was nowhere to be found. In its place rose a pale and mel¬ 
ancholy flower which even now likes to see its image in the water, just as Narcis¬ 
sus did in the placid stream. Sophocles tells us that the goddesses on Olympus 
were crowned with Narcissi which bloomed constantly by being kept moist with 
the dews which fell from heaven. 
Daffodils at “ Tulipdom ” 
Soil and its Treatment. Narcissi will thrive in any ordinary garden soil, but 
prefer a deep, rather moist, sandy loam. When the soil is of a dry and sandy 
nature, it should be deeply dug, if possible at least a season before planting the 
bulbs, composted leaves or well-rotted horse manure being added and a vegetable 
or annual crop grown on the ground. Before the bulbs are planted a sprinkling 
of lime should be spread on the surface and then raked in. It is also beneficial 
to add bone meal at the rate of 1J oz. to the square yard while digging the soil. 
Never use fresh manure of any kind at planting time—it bums the roots! On 
very poor and dry sandy soils we recommend the addition of about 1 oz. per 
square yard of sulphate of potash to be sprinkled over the surface of the ground, 
after planting. 
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