September 4, 1897."’ 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
13 
the cultivation not merely of Daffodils but of several 
other hardy bulbs. We see additional proof of this 
every year in various parts of the country. Bulbs of 
various kinds are grown in considerable quantity in 
Lincolnshire, the Midlands, the Thames Valley, and 
Ireland. Addressing an assembly of gardeners at 
Birmingham recently, Mr. F. W. Burbidge, of 
Dublin, said, " As to the comparative merits of 
Continental v. English bulbs, I may say that while 
Holland produces the best Hyacinths, and, perhaps, 
also some early Tulips, we in England and Ireland 
can grow by far the best Narcissi, late Tulips, Snow¬ 
drops, and Crocus of all kinds. So far as Narcissi 
are concerned, we can defy the world, both in rearing 
new and in growing all other varieties to the greatest 
perfection of luxuriant health and beauty.” 
While England, Scotland, and Wales each have 
their respective and peculiar varieties of Daffodil, 
Ireland is also responsible for the placing of many 
fine sorts at the disposal of the cultivator, and to 
some of these we wish to refer. Amongst bright 
yellow, trumpet Daffodils no one will deny the bold 
and telling appearance of Ard-Righ or Irish King 
(see figure). It is useful alike for cut flowers, mar¬ 
ket, forcing, pot culture and bedding purposes. 
Countess of Annesley (see illustration) is well-known 
in this country for the large size of its flowers, and 
rich yellow, widely expanded, fringed and plaited 
trumpet. John Ridd and Lorna Doone, are light 
yellow varieties of great size, and the latter being 
raised between Emperor and Narcissus muticus, is 
a late bloomer. Primrose Dame (see figure) is prim¬ 
rose or soft yellow, as the name would imply, and 
remarkable for the plaited and inflated character of 
its trumpet. A more important feature is that the 
flowers are deliciously scented—a rare occurrence 
amongst trumpet Daffodils. It is therefore very 
choice for pot culture in the conservatory, A tall 
and beautiful variety of the Irish N. moschatus 
cernuus is that named Butterfly (see illustration). 
The pale, nearly white, flowers are characterised by 
their widely expanded trumpet, twisted segments, and 
the pendent habit of the blooms. Bishop Mann 
belongs to the same type and is the tallest, earliest, 
and hardiest of the section. Colleen Bawn or The 
Fair Maid of Erin is considered to be the purest 
white trumpet Daffodil in cultivation. Others 
might be named, but the above serve to show that 
Ireland can raise as well as grow Daffodils. The illus¬ 
trations of Ard-Righ, Countess of Annesley, Primrose 
Dame.BishopMann, and Butterfly were lent us by Mr. 
William B. Hartland, Cork, Ireland, who has done 
so much for the cause in the Sister Isle. They are 
some of the woodcu s from his beautifully executed 
book on ” Conference Daffodils.” Mr. Hartland 
also keeps alive the reputation of Tulips,of which he 
cultivates a large and representative collection of 
bedding species. 
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Potatos in Co. Limerick have been very badly 
attacked with disease, and prices are now three or 
four times higher than last year. 
BULB SALES. 
When the poet Tennyson wrote that “ the thoughts 
of men are widened by the process of the suns ” he 
was undoubtedly right in a general sense, but the 
words may also be specially applied, and in no 
direction mure truly than in that of horticulture, for 
the dreams of yesterday are but the facts of to-day. 
The love for gardens and gardening has grown to 
tremendous proportions, and is still growing. With 
the increased facilities for transport, horticultural 
commodities are brought within the reach of every¬ 
one possessing a garden. Having regard not only to 
the cheapness of bulbs, but the ease with which 
they may be grown, as well as their beauty, it is 
manifest that they must be prime favourites with all, 
and the autumn months remind us that we must lay 
in our stock, modest or otherwise, of the floral 
treasures. 
The machine, whereby the private grower is 
supplied with the needful material, is an intricate 
and far-reaching one, but its mechanism is, perhaps, 
most interesting at the centre of distribution—the 
public auction room. At 67 & 68, Cheapside, under 
the shade of ” Bennett’s ” clock, lies one of the most 
important of these centres, for here Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris have for many years held sales 
of the bulb treasures which Southern France, 
Holland and Japan pour in The quantity disposed 
of, both to the trade and directly to amateur cultiva¬ 
tors on such occasions, is immense. Two years ago 
when only two sales were held in each week, over 
twenty tons of bulbs were sold, on the average, by 
the firm during each week from September till 
Christmas. The business has grown, as healthy 
businesses have a knack of doing, and sales of bulbs 
are now held each week-day excepting Saturday, so 
that a substantial increase in the turnover is inevit¬ 
able. 
Situated thus in one of the busiest of London 
thoroughfares, the attendance at the rooms is good, 
although but a small proportion of those who go to 
make up the thronging crowds of Cheapside reck of 
the quiet passage that leads to them. Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris make a feature of executing 
orders for gentlemen who cannot attend, this depart¬ 
ment receiving careful and personal attention. The 
firm requests that a remittance should accompany 
all such commissions. A statement of account is 
then rendered by the firm, the balance refunded to 
the client, and everybody is satisfied. 
We recently paid a visit to one of these sales, and 
were most favourably impressed with the manner in 
which they were conducted. Mr. T. A. Morris 
occupied the rostrum, and the frequent click, click, 
of his hammer bespoke the fact that buyers were 
present in plenty, and that business was brisk. As 
between two thousand and three thousand lots were 
catalogued for that day’s sale, it was evident that the 
auctioneer’s task was by no means a sinecure. 
Hyacinths were there in plenty, made up in lots of 
named varieties. Blues seemed to always command 
their price, and the same may be said of the single 
red Gertrude, and Norma, which are evidently 
favourites. Narcissi, Tulips, Crocuses, Scillas, 
Ixias, and bulbous Irises were all in great quantity, 
made up in parcels of a size to suit all sorts of 
growers. Porters were busy at work bustling up the 
bags, and opening them for buyers to see. Curiously 
enough, however, the buyers did not want to see, and 
this called down a mild rebuke from the rostrum. 
Gentlemen, said Mr. T. A. Morris, " you ought 
sometimes to look at the bulbs you are buying.” The 
trust reposed in the firm is evidently unlimited, fair 
dealing the motto, and -this is as it ought to be. We 
had a look at a number of the samples, and in all 
cases found fine, well-ripened, and heavy bulbs of 
medium size, which all experienced cultivators know 
are what is wanted to insure success. 
On the day of our visit the ” trade " element was 
not so strongly represented as we expected to see it, 
but amateurs were in strong force, and in a buying 
humour. Prices all round were, moreover, wonder¬ 
fully reasonable, and we found ourselves wondering 
whether, after all, the cheapest way to make a 
garden beautiful was not to plant it with bulbs. 
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THE CAPE HYACINTH. 
This noble Liliaceous plant is often met with under 
the name of Hyacinthus candicans, but its correct 
name is Galtonia candicans. It differs from a true 
Hyacinth by having angled and compressed or 
almost flat seeds, whereas those of Hyacinthus are 
globular. There are two species of Galtonia, both 
natives of South Africa, and that under notice is by 
far the finer of the two. From a bold, radical tuft 
of leaves, the flower scapes rise to a height of ft. 
to 4 ft. according to vigour. The bell shaped, 
drooping flowers are pure white, of great substance, 
and, individually, not unlike those of a Snowdrop. 
It gives most satisfaction as a garden plant owing to 
its great size and vigour, which militate against it for 
pot work. It is often planted in the herbaceous 
border and in mixtures of beddirg plants. Very 
effective is a large bed of it mixed with an equal 
number of scarlet or other highly coloured Gladioli, 
with which it forms a fine contrast. The bulbs are 
perfectly hardy and may be left in the open ground, 
unprotected all the winter. Under any of these 
conditions it is a bold and telling plant during July, 
August, and part of September. The accompanying 
illustration (p.i 1), lent us by Messrs. William Cutbush 
& Sons.Highgate, gives a good idea of the plant very 
much reduced. 
SOCIETIES. 
LOCHEE AMATEUR HORTICULTURAL — 
August 20 th (S’ 21 st. 
This two days’ fixture was opened in Ancrum Public 
School by the Rev. Stewart Galloway in presence of 
a fair attendance. In the course of his remarks the 
reverend gentleman referred to the benefits to be 
derived from good gardening, and concluded by 
expressing a hope that Lochee people would not 
withhold from the show the support it deserved. 
This season the exhibits were very satisfactory, 
pot plants being specially fine. The cut blooms showed 
a falling off,but this was well compensated for by the 
improvement in fruit and vegetables. 
Mr. J. Beocher was one of the most successfu 
exhibitors, winning first awards for four specimen 
stove and greenhouse plants, Petunias and Gloxinias. 
Mr. Young and Mr. James Warden had the best 
Asters, while the Dahlias sent by Mr. John Lamond 
were placed at the top of the list. 
BROUGHTY FERRY. —August 20th & 21*/. 
In the unavoidable absence of Provost Orchar, Mr. 
R. M. Brodie opened this show, which was held in 
the Volunteer Drill Shed, Broughty Ferry. 
A lengthy schedule of prizes had been arranged,and 
the committee are to be congratulated upon the 
success of the undertaking. 
Roses were a special feature, and some excellent 
blooms were shown in the various classes. Messrs. 
D. & W. Croll, Dundee, staged the premier forty- 
eight. In the class for twelve blooms of Teas or 
Noisettes, open to gardeners only, Mr. D. Keillor, 
Siabourne, was first. Mr. Keillor also had the b-jst 
twelve blooms of H.P.’s. In the amateurs’ class for 
Narcissus Bishop Mann. 
