7 
THE ENEMIES OF THE NARCISSUS. 
By CHARLES E. SHEA, Member of the " R.H.S” Scientific Committee. 
I have been asked to write a few notes upon the above subject, and, certainly, the time has 
arrived when it is no longer prudent, or safe, to disregard the very serious increase which recent 
years have shown to exist in the number of enemies which afflict one of the most popular flowers 
of the day. Not so very long ago it was written of the Narcissus that it had " but one insect and 
one disease "; unfortunately we cannot say this with truth to-day. 
It is not pleasant to find that a variety for which, perhaps, several pounds per bulb have been 
paid, fails to appear in the second season. In the past we have perhaps accepted the result as 
merely inexplicable, or inevitable as a chance possibility; and we have left it at that ; but 
recent investigations point to the conclusion that such dire results are, in many cases, preventable, 
if only due precautions are taken—and in time. 
But first of all we must try to recognise the particular pest which afflicts our bulbs. 
Of all the diseases which attack the Narcissus perhaps the most dangerous, and certainly 
the most insidious, is the parasitic fungus called Fusiarium bulbigcnum, a disease known 
for some considerable time in Holland, but now, unfortunately, but too widely spread in this country. 
We are told, upon unimpeachable authority, that in places where this disease has 
obtained a firm foothold, "entire plots of bulbs have been completely destroyed.” One cannot, 
therefore, be called unduly alarmist if one draws special attention to this very serious disease. 
When a bulb is fairly attacked its complete destruction appears inevitable. Space does not 
permit of a detailed account of the operations, and progress, of the fungus which lead to this 
result, but it may be taken as proved that the fungus is propagated, and spread, both by the minute 
secondary spores produced by the chlamydospores, or resting spores, carried through the air by 
the wind for the infection of other plants, although possibly only plants showing some wound or 
abrasion in the foliage, and also by means of the mycelium which permeates and infects the soil. 
The presence of the fungus is generally first recognised by the appearance on the leaves 
of small yellowish spots, which gradually increase in size and become brown and dry. Patches 
of pale salmon-coloured specks appear. These are the nests of the Fusariutn spores, and from 
these, in due course, the mycelium of the fungus travels down through the leaves and into 
the bulb itself, attacking the base of the bulb in the first instance, and speedily the whole bulb 
turns brown, and complete decay follows. 
Another, and to the Hybridist, a very serious aspect of the matter, has very recently 
presented itself, which, if the statements communicated to me can be confirmed, would point to 
the conclusion that the Seed of Narcissi can be infected by this fungus where one of the parents 
has itself the disease, with the result that the seedling, if not in the first year, will in the second 
or third year show clearly the presence of Fusariutn. Inasmuch as it has already been established 
that this occurs in the case of the celery leaf spot, due to the fungus Scptonia pet rose!ini it is 
distinctly possible in the case of Fusariutn. However, we must await more definite information 
before this aspect of the matter has to be accepted. 
But the practical question is how can this disease, when its presence is recognised, be dealt 
with? It may be accepted that a bulb once attacked is doomed, and must be destroyed. Further, 
that soil probably infected must be either removed wholesale or the border be left untenanted by 
bulbs for at least two or three years. So far as present knowledge goes it is impossible to deal 
effectively either with the mycelium or the chlamydospores. It is only in the matter of the 
secondary spores that there appears opportunity to take active preventative measures. 
Where, therefore, the presence of the fungus is known, or suspected, a dusting of Kainit 
worked into the soil between the rows, should be given at intervals during the Spring, commencing 
as soon as the earliest foliage shows above the soil — also, a light spraying of both soil and foliage 
with a weak solution of Potass. Sulphurata— 1 oz to 4 gallons of water. By these means the 
secondary spores reached will probably be killed, and one of the chief sources of the spread of the 
disease arrested at the outset. 
There is another parasitic fungus, the Puccinia Schroeteri , which, however, appears to 
specialise on a very limited number of varieties of the Narcissus, such as the Jonquils, Poeticus, 
and Telamonius plenus. It attacks the leaf-tips; but, although found in Belgium, Carniola and 
Italy, has not attained as yet in this country a footing likely to be serious. 
An enemy of distinct importance is the well-known Narcissus Fly (Merodon equestris). 
a fly which resembles a small, hairy, dark coloured bee. It is about half an inch long, with a 
spread of its single wings of an inch. It is the grub, and not the fly, which directly does the 
mischief. It is stated that each fly lays from 60 to 100 eggs, and deposits each egg in a separate 
bulb, involving a widespread devastation. 
