Sept. 27th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
53 
IMPERIAL DAFFODILS. 
The Imperial Daffodils are Narcissus bicolor, 
“Empress,” and N. lovifolius, Emperor, both raised 
from seeds many years ago by the late Mr. William 
Backhouse, of St. John’s, Walsingham, who devoted 
many years of his life to the culture and improve¬ 
ment of these beautiful flowers. When well and 
vigorously grown, no seedling Daffodils whatever 
approach those we now illustrate in stately growth 
or in perfection of blossoming. N. Empress has 
great, solid, wax-like flowers fully 4 in. in diameter, 
the perianth segments being white, and a long trumpet 
of a rich golden-yellow colour. As seen in well- 
established health and vigour, it is a noble flower. 
Some have confounded N. Horsefieldii with N. 
Empress, but as seen in the mass growing side by 
side, the two kinds are quite different and distinct 
from each other. In Mr. Walker’s collection at 
Whitton last April, we saw beds of each variety side 
the two varieties by Mr. J. Page, for which we are 
indebted to Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, 
show the size and form of these two grand Daffodils, 
the yellow colour of N. Emperor being indicated 
by the darker shading on the perianth segments. We 
need scarcely point out the fact that these two noble 
Daffodils are perfectly hardy on all good well-drained 
soils, but for pot culture they are quite as valuable. 
Bulbs of N. Empress cost fifteen shillings per 
dozen; those of N. Emperor twenty.-one shillings. 
In a word, every amateur fond of his garden can at a 
cost of three shillings and sixpence possess himself 
of a bulb of each, and those who think nothing of 
paying five or ten guineas for an Orchid, might do 
worse than invest in a dozen each of these Narcissi 
for pot culture. Planted now, three bulbs in a pot, 
they will be fine in a cool greenhouse next March, and 
will then bear comparison with any Orchid in 
flower. When potted, the bulbs should be covered 
3 or 4 in. with coal ashes or cocoa-nut fibre, and 
DUTCH BULBS FOR AMATEURS. 
This is the season when amateur readers who 
are fond of growing a few bulbs have their atten¬ 
tion turned to what they shall cultivate. Now is 
the time to do this and also to make such a selection 
as they think will meet their requirements. Some 
are attracted by the announcements of public sales 
of bulbs and make a purchase, only in many instances 
to suffer grievous disappointment. It is far better, 
and much more satisfactory in result, to spend a few 
shillings more, and make a selection from a trust¬ 
worthy catalogue, and thus secure something worthy of 
the time and attention necessary to be given to cultiva¬ 
tion. Now here is a selection of Hyacinths that is 
well suited to anyone of moderate means and limited 
accommodation. I have purposely passed by the 
double varieties, as they are not wanted in a limited 
collection. Single red varieties:—Cavaignac, Cosmos, 
Emmeline, General Pelissier, Lord Macaulay, Norma, 
narcissus bicoloe “ ejipeess ” (see p. 61). 
by side, we have also seen them growing in Holland, 
and the differences between N. Horsefieldii and N. 
Empress may be shown as 
N. Empress. 
Height of plant 18 to 24 in. 
Leaves pale or leek green. 
Flowers about April 20th. 
Petals stout; Trunk golden. 
Increases slowly, at the root. 
Price one shilling and sixpence 
per root. 
Raised by 'Wm. Backhouse. 
follows:— 
N. Horsefieldii. 
Height of plant 15 to 18 in. 
Leaves darker or onion green. 
Flowers about April 10th. 
Petals shimmer in the wind, 
being of less substance, and 
the trunk is of a paler colour. 
Increases quickly, at the root. 
Price ninepence per root. 
Raised by John Horsefield. 
should not be brought into the warmth of a green¬ 
house until next January or February, about which 
tune they will commence to throw up leaves and 
flowers. All Daffodils are beautiful in pots, and open 
out larger and clearer under glass than when fully 
exposed to the inclemency of our spring season in 
the open-air, but none are finer for this purpose than 
these two varieties which we have here figured and 
described.— F. TV. Burbidge. 
■ -g- ~ - ~ C- 
Both varieties should be grown, because while N. 
Empress is undoubtedly the finer of the two in its 
blossoming on good well-drained soil, N. Horsefieldii 
is the hardiest, increases more rapidly, and is the best 
Daffodil of the two for ordinary rough and tumble 
culture. N. Emperor differs from N. Empress in 
having the petals pale yellow instead of white, but 
is in all other ways equally fine in form and substance. 
It has not the molten gold tint of N. maximus, but 
comes much nearer to the “florist’s standard” of a 
beautiful flower. The accompanying illustrations of 
Hardy Cyclamens. — These are charming little 
plants for the hardy rockwork, and commence flower¬ 
ing at a season when most of the summer things 
are fading. A few plants of C. coum, C. europieum, 
and C. hederiefolium with their rose-coloured or 
white flowers, are now very pretty objects. Several 
clumps may be seen on the new rockwork at Kew, and 
in the wild garden we observed a patch some three 
yards in diameter. The majority of the plants were 
rose-coloured, and the effect as they nestle in the 
grass is not less novel than attractive. 
Solfaterre, and Von Schiller; eight in all. Single 
white varieties :—Alba maxima, Cleopatra, Grandeur 
a Mervielle, La Franchise, Madame Van der Hoop, 
Mont Blanc, and Snowball; seven varieties. Single 
blue varieties :—Baron Von Tuyll, Charles Dickens, 
De Candolle, Grand Lilas, Haydn, King of the 
Blues, Lord Byron, Lord Palmerston, Marie, and 
Sir John Laurence ; ten in all. Add the following 
four yellow varieties, and our selection is complete : — 
Anna Carolina, Due de Malakoff, Ida, and La 
Citronniere. 
These will average from ninepence to one shilling 
each ; and the bulbs, if had within the next month, 
will be plump and sound, and, if well grown, certain 
to flower in a satisfactory manner. As a matter of 
course a cultivator of Hyacinths will be certain to 
include a few bulbs of the Early White Roman variety. 
If a half-dozen bulbs be put into a fair-sized pot, 
using good soil, they will bloom early and be found 
very useful indeed, especially if they can be forced 
on a little in a gentle heat. The other early flowering 
forms are not worthy of attention, and in regard to the 
