May 1, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
555 
Of the bicolor section the characters are :—The leaves 
thick in substance, very broad and large, not acute or 
tapering, but rounded off suddenly at the ends ; it is 
late-flowering, the corona is cylindrical or ventricose, 
slightly lobed, and the perianth divisions often large 
and loose. Two distinct wild forms are well known— 
1, Lorifolius, which is found in the Pyrenees in North 
Portugal, and probably in the Apennines ; and 2, N. 
muticus of the French botanist Gay, a very distinct 
Daffodil, covering hundreds of acres on the French side 
of the Pyrenees near Garvarnie, and in other parts. It 
is so distinct in its character that Haworth, though he 
had never seen living plants, assigned to it a separate 
genus called Pileus, and divided it into five species. 
This is the bicolor of some French local botanists, and 
we do not know yet any wild form which comes nearer 
the bicolor of gardens, though we may expect to find 
some. As regards muticus, which is sometimes called 
abseissus in English Catalogues, the large broad leaves 
with rounded ends, the straight cylindrical corona, its 
late flowering, and other characters claim for it a place 
in this section. It seems strange that so distinct a 
Daffodil has never been figured in any English work. 
The last section, Moschatus, or the White Daffodil, 
is very interesting. The only form of it we yet know 
for certain in its own home w T as rediscovered about six 
years ago by Mr. E. N. Buxton on the Spanish slope of 
the Pyrenees whilst chamois hunting, about 6000 ft. 
above the sea level, near Mount Perdu. It was in May, 
and at that elevation the flowers were just out. Mr. 
Buxton at once laid down his rifle, and supplied him¬ 
self with roots of this new prize, which were the first 
wild ones brought to England in recent times. Since 
then this habitat liasbecome known to French collectors, 
and many thousands of bulbs have been imported 
thence to England. It has always been supposed that 
other and larger forms of this section are to be found 
wild in Spain, but we do not know for certain that any 
have yet been found, and we want trustworthy infor¬ 
mation on this point. A character of this section is 
that the separation of the perianth divisions is marked 
by a conspicuous line continued nearly to the bottom 
of the tube. This completes my short notice of the 
principal known wild forms, but the list of known wild 
forms will constantly increase, and is growing from year 
to year. A very distinct variety was sent to me by 
Mr. Alfred Tait from Portugal early in last month, but 
not in sufficiently good condition to describe its 
character. Another remarkable form of Daffodil was 
sent by the same gentleman with perianth divisions re¬ 
flexed so as to meet in a point, and with no tube. It is 
thought to be identical with the N. cyclamineus adopted 
by Haworth from old authors who figured it. If not a 
hybrid, it seems to demand a species to itself, for it can 
hardly find a place amongst N. Pseudo-Narcissus. 
I have followed Mr. Baker in adopting Haworth’s 
names, though I feel all the while that several of them 
are misapplied. It seems inconsistent to adopt an 
author’s names when the characters given by that 
author to the plants he describes under those names are 
manifestly at variance with the characters of the plants 
to which we apply them. For instance, Haworth’s N. 
minor was a flower with imbricated perianth divisions, 
whilst we now apply it to a flower of which a dis¬ 
tinctive mark is its free perianth divisions, and the 
same inconsistency applies to N. minimus. Again, the 
N. nanus of Haworth was a pale sulphur-coloured 
Daffodil with leaves % in. wide. Our N. nanus is a 
full yellow, with leaves narrower than those of minor. 
I am at a loss to know what variety Haworth intended 
by the name rugilobus, which he classes under the 
section Pseudo-Narcissus ; but it is now transferred to 
one belonging evidently to the bicolor section, and 
identical, so far as T can judge, with lorifolius. The 
same uncertainty attends several others of the names 
of Haworth in their recent application. 
( To be continued.) 
-- 
THE POTTING OF PLANTS. 
Whether we raise plants from seeds or by cuttings, 
the manipulation, as regards potting, is a progressive 
one in bringing them to a state of perfection. The 
practice in potting plants as regards detail in many 
instances differ, according to the preconceived ideas of 
some and the rule of thumb practice of others. There 
are those who recommend one system which others 
disapprove, still both may succeed in arriving at pretty 
nearly the same results in the end. In the successful 
growing of all kinds of plants, there is an absolute 
necessity that, whatever the species may be, a know¬ 
ledge of its general character and requirements arc 
essential to secure a satisfactory issue. Now one of 
the most important considerations conceivable in plant 
cultivation (assuming that due regard is paid to the 
compost) is the drainage of the pots in which the plants 
are growing, and this is of paramount importance when 
they receive their final shift in potting. After this has 
been done, plants have to perfect themselves in the 
production of both flowers and fruits. 
When the plants are shifted into large pots, abun¬ 
dant drainage material is required, so that in the 
application of water the same may readily percolate the 
whole mass of soil contained in the pots ; it is in this 
way that the plants obtain their food supply ; the 
water passing through enables the roots to take up and 
assimilate all convertible matter contained in the soil, 
and in the course of time the soil becomes exhausted 
of its convertible constituents, hence the practice 
and necessity of applying manure in a liquid form, 
so as to replace and maintain a constant supply of 
food stimulants to bring the plants into a satis¬ 
factory state of fruition, and in effecting this object 
the drainage of the pots has to play a very important 
part in the matter. One of the best modes with 
which I am acquainted, whether the subjects under 
treatment be Vines, Pines, or Chrysanthemums, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Fuchsias, &c., or I may say all plants that 
are designated gross feeders, is instead of using 
potsherds, as is commonly done, to put a small pot 
inverted over the large hole in the bottom of the pot 
into which plants are to be finally placed to finish 
their work, and to fill the space that surrounds the 
inverted pot with charcoal and crushed bones. In 
adopting this plan not only is effective drainage 
insured, but the roots of the plants have a more 
abundant supply of food, and the worms, should there 
be any, are prevented from making ingress to the 
pots. 
Plants rarely do well when worms are located in the 
balls of earth in which they are growing, and should 
the plants be large and well grown, it is difficult to 
expel them unless recourse is had to lime-water, which 
may not be convenient. When plants are grown in 
the West Kent garden pots they are more immediately 
under the control of those in whom the management is 
vested, and should an examination of the roots be 
necessary, the w r ork is done with the greatest ease and 
facility .—Man of Kent. 
-->A<—- 
FRUITS, FLOWERS k VEGETABLES. 
Keen’s Seedling and Black Prince Straw¬ 
berries. —I can fully endorse the praise a “Surrey 
Gardener ” bestows on the old Keen’s Seedling Straw¬ 
berry, which is seldom seen now r , as the rage seems 
to be for new inferior sorts with striking names, or 
old sorts under new names, which appear to be more 
taking to some. Old hands, however, have learnt to stick 
to the old maxim, “ Hold fast to that which is good,” 
a maxim which many of us might follow’ with advantage. 
When this variety once establishes itself in a soil suit¬ 
able to its liking, nothing can surpass it, and for a dry 
soil it is one of the best general cropping sorts that we 
have. In the garden in which I served my time it was 
the favourite amongst many others, and it is so still. 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury seems to be a good 
sort, and with many it proves so, but I do not think 
there is such a wude gulf between the two, as it appears 
immaterial which one of the two anyone may happen 
to get. As to its being urged against Keen’s Seedling 
that the fruits are of irregular size, I consider this the 
beauty of a Strawberry, thus showing it to be a free 
setter. Black Prince was done away with in the before- 
named garden at the time I was there, more than 
twenty years since, though it was acknowledged to be 
the earliest and of good flavour, but was discarded on 
account of the smallness of its fruits and its requiring 
three times more ground than Keen’s and others to 
give the same result. I have grown it since, and still 
see it occasionally, but do not think much of it, except 
for its earliness. Of course, I am alluding to their out¬ 
door culture. Black Prince, Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury and Keen’s Seedling, outside, follow closely upon 
each other’s heels, and from this fact I should infer that 
the result would be practically the same indoors. — B, L. 
Keen’s Seedling- Strawberry.— I wish to 
support the statement made by a “Surrey Gardener” 
respecting the merits of this fine old variety. As a 
forcer it has never yet been surpassed—if equalled. 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury is a good setter, but its 
acid flavour when ripe renders it unpopular. I am 
afraid “Surrey Gardener” will eventually abandon 
Black Prince, as, although very early, it is so very 
small, and as good useful fruit may be picked the last 
week in February from robust well-ripened plants of 
Keen’s, I consider the Prince is not worth growing in 
quantity for forcing. I send you a few fruits of Keen’s 
Seedling, similar to those we have been gathering 
since March.— John Crawford, CoddingtonHall, Nevearlc. 
The Poinsettia. —Mr. Marsden’s paper on the 
Poinsettia, at p. 536, contains sound information. His 
mention of pits reminded me that a great deal has been 
said of late years about growing Poinsettias in cold 
frames, and so much has been written in favour of such 
a practice, that last year I mustered up courage to try 
them in cold frames, but it will take a great deal more 
than has been written to induce me to try it again. 
Warm pits or frames with a mean bottom heat of 68° 
or 70° is the best place in wkich to grow them; a chink 
of air at all times in summer and early autumn, and 
the plants well up to the glass, will insure large well- 
developed bracts in due season. — J. U. 
Soot and the Onion Maggot.— Good soot 
properly applied is a preventive to the attacks of the 
Onion Maggot; 1 have proved it to my own satisfaction 
at all events. I also think it a great pity that it is not 
more frequently applied to crops in the kitchen garden, 
for it is one of the best of fertilizers and insecticides. 
The plan mentioned by Mr. Walker is a good one, but 
it is open to the objection of requiring valuable space 
in the houses and also of entailing extra labour in 
transplanting them at a very busy time. And what 
should we do for the usual quantity of small onions for 
salading, &c., in early Summer ?— J. U. 
Gladiolus Colvillii “The Bride.” —I can 
strongly recommend this chaste and floriferous plant 
to the attention of amateurs for cultivation in pots. 
If freely supplied with water when in full growth, and 
kept close to the glass, there is no further trouble with 
it. Of course the flower spikes must be kept clear of 
the glass or they will grow deformed. Five corms 
placed in a 6-in. pot will be quite sufficient, and a 
compost of two parts loam, one part leaf-mould, and 
one of sand will suit them admirably.— J. U. 
Tiger Flowers. —The Tigridias are amongst the 
showiest of our garden flowers. The new 'white variety 
I obtained from Mr. Bull as soon as it was introduced, 
and was more than satisfied with it; the rich satiny 
white is set off by the blotches of crimson in the centre, 
and when a few of them are grown amongst the batch 
of T. pavonia grandiflora, they have a most telling 
effect. These plants also do well in pots, and should 
be taken in hand by amateurs. The soil recommended 
for Gladiolus will also do well for these, and the same 
general treatment will suit both. Tigridias are very 
frequently kept too dry during the winter months, 
especially if they are stored in a warm house, they 
then grow “finer by degrees and beautifully less.” 
When stored under such conditions they ought to 
receive water on an average once a week, but if they are 
kept in cold frames whilst at rest, then W'ater must be 
applied more carefully.— Reader. 
A Perpetual Fruiting Holly.— We have here 
what I term a perpetual fruiting Holly tree, and the 
reason I term it perpetual is that for the past ten years 
I have never known it to be without berries, no matter 
at what time of the year. Even now it may, I think, 
safely be considered late to look for Holly berries, but 
lest you or the readers of The Gardening World may 
be incredulous, I send you a spray for inspection. The 
tree is standing amongst other shrubs such as Yews and 
Laurels, and at this time of the year the bright coral 
berries are particularly pleasing against their dark green 
foliage ; sometimes I am almost tempted to look upon 
it as a rarity. Is it so ?— C. C. [The berries are as 
bright and plump as in mid-winter. We cannot say if 
the variety is rare, but it is certainly not common. —Ed. ] 
Primrose Alice Wilson. —There are so many 
good varieties of Primroses now that it is exceedingly 
difficult to obtain a really distinct and meritorious 
novelty ; but this task Mr. G. F. Wilson has accom¬ 
plished in the production of the lovely variety Alice 
Wilson, Certificated at South Kensington last week. 
