April 19, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
521 
the breadth of the white zone round the disc. Some 
with a white zone are otherwise coloured towards the 
margin with blue, or the latter tinted with violet, also 
rich rose-purple, magenta, violet-purple, and velvety 
plum-purple. Both the magenta and plum-coloured 
kinds are very dwarf and floriferous, often not exceed¬ 
ing 6 ins. in height. 
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THE CHINESE SACRED LILY 
AND ITS ALLIES. 
The bulbs of Narcissus Tazetta, sent to this country 
under the name of the Chinese Sacred Lily, are not 
strictly true to one type. There is considerable varia¬ 
tion in the size and quality of the flowers, with respect 
to breadth of segment and substance. Some of the 
difference will be seen by reference to our illustration. 
Mr. Baker, of Kew, names the variety N. T. chinensis. 
One of its characters consists of the number of offsets 
from each bulb. The finest form, No. 1, which we 
regard as the type, has moderately large flowers, with 
roundly obovate, much imbricated white segments. 
The corona is cup-shaped, wide, open, and deep golden 
yellow. The flowers are strongly fragrant. The smaller 
form. No. 2, has narrower segments, much tapered to 
the base, and the corona is smaller. The double form, 
No. 3, has cropped up amongst our bulbs, as well as 
elsewhere, and it is not quite clear whether the mixing 
of the bulbs by the Chinese was accidental or other¬ 
wise. The segments of the double form are variable in 
breadth and reflexed. The corona is torn up into 
numerous erect segments, some of which are elongated 
and white, except at the base and sometimes along the 
edges, while the short ones are of the usual deep golden 
yellow. The flowers are as strongly fragrant as the 
single form. 
Continental as well as the best English authorities 
are agreed that the Chinese Sacred Lily cannot be 
matched exactly with any of the types in cultivation. 
The variety named Her Majesty (No. 4) approaches 
nearer than any other coming under our notice ; but 
the flowers are, however, larger, and pale sulphur- 
white, with a golden yellow corona. The segments 
are sub-orbicular, very broad at the base, and much 
nrbricated. It is the opinion of many that Grand 
Monarque comes nearest to the Chinese Sacred Lily, if, 
indeed, it is not identical Grand Monarque (No. 6), 
formerly also known as N. floribundus, is, however, 
easily separable by its larger flowers and pale yellow 
corona. The segments are oblong-elliptic, and the 
outer ones pointed. Bazelman major (No. 5) is easily 
distinguishable by its very large flowers and oval 
pointed segments, which are slightly twisted, white, 
and more or less tinted with lemon at the base. The 
corona is golden yellow, and much plaited, at least 
when young. All of the above belong to the section 
named Tazettinoe Bicolores in Baker’s Handbook of the 
Amarijllidcc. 
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DAFFODILS FROM IRELAND. 
A consignment of these popular and beautiful hardy 
subjects has reached us from Mr. W. B. Hartland, of 
Cork. The finest, in our opinion, of the Bicolor 
section sent us was N. bicolor grandis. The great 
breadth of the white segments formed a fine contrast 
with the bright yellow corona. The segments of N. b. 
James "Walker are somewhat twisted, as in the type, 
and the corona more expanded at the mouth than 
Grandis. That named Lorifolius Mr. Camm had 
shorter and spreading flat segments. Ajax Mrs. 
Beaumon is a fine Daffodil, with broad, sulphur- 
coloured segments, and a cylindrical, bright yellow 
corona. It seemed something in the way of N. muticus, 
but had broader segments and a much wider corona. 
The latter is, however, a beautifully distinct Daffodil, 
with a truncate corona. The darkest and richest 
yellow sent was that named Dirk de Graaff, notable for 
the shortness of its tube, the breadth of its segments, 
and the width of the corona, which was several shades 
darker than the bright yellow segments. 
Of the N. moschatus type, one was sent under the 
name of Swan’s Neck, Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, having a 
very drooping flower, with white segments, and a 
wide-mouthed, pale lemon corona. All of the above 
are now classed under N. Pseudo-Narcissus as varieties 
and sub-species of it. 
A few of the Magnicoronate hybrids sent us were 
good examples of the ornamental character of this 
group for garden purposes. The finest was that named 
Sabini Wm. Wilks, which is remarkable for the great 
width and comparative shortness of its sulphur-coloured 
segments. The wide, golden yellow corona was deeply 
lobed at the mouth, and slightly shorter than the 
segments. Nelsoni Major has white segments and a 
yellow corona tinted with orange at the mouth. Tridy- 
mus Mr. de Graaf is somewhat similar in form to the 
last, but it bore two strongly scented flowers on a scape, 
and the segments were sulphur-yellow while the trun¬ 
cate corona was deep golden yellow. All three are 
classed under N. Macleaii. 
A pretty and distinct form of N. incomparabilis was 
N. i. semipartitus, with large flowers and a deeply six- 
lobed corona. The hybrid N. Leedsii was represented 
by the variety Minnie Hume, with white segments and 
a wide, bell-shaped lemon-yellow corona. N. L. 
Duchess of Westminster was notable for the great length 
of its spreading white segments, and its pale lemon 
corona. It is evidently a vigorous-growing variety. N. 
poeticus, a great favourite with us, was represented by 
the beautiful N. p. poetarum, whose flattened and 
plaited corona is a fulvous scarlet to the very base. To 
get forms with a paler corona would spoil the variety. 
It ought to be more common in gardens. 
-- 
THE PRIMROSE. 
The common Primrose (Primula vulgaris), as its name 
denotes—prima rosa, the first rose of spring—is among 
the most welcome of our spring flowers, growing 
abundantly in woods, copses, and partially shaded 
banks, thriving most luxuriantly on clay soil, and 
rarely occurring like the Cowslip in the midst of the 
meadow. In France it is called Primevere du prin- 
temps ; and in Germany, Frauenschliissel, or Lady’s 
Key, so called, as it is supposed to unlock the treasures 
of spring, and reveal its stores of summer jewels. 
In all old works and MSS. it was written Fryme 
rolles, and Chaucer writes it in one word, Primerole, 
which appears to be an abbreviation of the French 
Primeverole, and Italian, Primaverola,from Fior di piima 
vera, the first spring flower. Primerole, as an 
unintelligible word, was soon altered into Prime rolles, 
and this into Primrose. 
How it came by this name is difficult to say, being 
so unlike a Rose both in form and colour ; one author 
declaring the Daisy to be the rightful claimant, which 
in the south of Europe is a common and conspicuous 
flower, while the Primrose is an extremely rare one, and 
it is the Daisy that bears the name in all old books. 
"Wandering through the woods all astir with life and 
music, so enjoyable to the lover of nature, you will find 
the Primrose in numbers, contrasting with the Violet, 
Blue Bell, "Wood Anemone, Celandine, and other well- 
known spring flowers, peeping out from some tangled 
thicket, with its sweet pale face and wrinkled leaves so 
similar to those of the Cowslip ; with the difference of 
the gradual narrowing of the Primrose leaf towards the 
stalk, while that of the Cowslip suddenly narrows just 
below the middle, forming the foot-stalk. 
The roots of the Primrose possess an emetic property, 
and, according to Gerarde, a drachm-and-a-half in the 
powdered state will act strongly and safely. The 
flowers are, I believe, still used in some country places, 
made into a pale yellow ointment. A wine too, 
somewhat resembling Cowslip wine, is made from 
Primroses, and I think there is a recipe for making a 
Primrose pudding. The leaves are not objected to by 
silkworms, and in localities where the Mulberry is not 
forthcoming they may be used as a substitute ; but, as 
a rule, animals seem to reject them as food. 
The colour of the flower is so peculiar—says the Rev. 
C. A. Johns, in his work, “ Flowers of the Field ”—as 
to have a name of its own ; artists, he says, maintain 
that primrose colour is a delicate green. In Germany, 
the Primrose has long been regarded as sacred, being 
one of the first signs of returning life of spring, by its 
piercing the snow before the termination of winter. 
Shakespere frequently alludes to this flower ; in his 
“ Winter’s Tale ” he represents youth in the following 
lines :— 
“ Pale Primroses, 
That die unmarried, ere they can behold 
Bright Phoebus in his strength.” 
And, again, in his “Cymbeline,” he connects it with 
death : — 
“ Whilst summer last, and I live here, Fidele, 
I’ll sweeten thy sad pave : Thou shalt not lack 
The flower that’s like thy face, pale Primrose.” 
In most works on the language of flowers, the Primrose 
is represented as indicative of early youth and sadness. 
Naecissus Tazetta chinensis and its Allies. Nat. size. (See text-) 
