April 23, 1898. 
585 
the gardening world. 
things formed from albuminous matters were 
animals subsisting on much the same substance as 
that of which they were composed. At some period 
in the growth of these living things chlorophyll 
came into existence and enabled such as had it to 
assimilate carbon from carbonic acid and nitrogen 
from ammonia. The forms intermediate between 
these and those that required albumen were derived 
from green plants, and fed on juices containing 
sugar and less highly elaborated substances than 
albumen. Fungi and Lichens had this saprophytic 
mode of nutrition. In classifying the simplest 
plants the professor divided them into Confervoidae, 
Conjugatae, and Schizophytae. The first-named 
were plate-like or spherical forms which separated 
into biflagellate individuals forming zoospores that 
conjugated to produce a single mass from whence a 
new colony arose. The Conjugatae had filamentous 
or single cells. In the Schizophytae continued 
division of the cells was the only method of repro¬ 
duction. There were two series of these, one, the 
Physochromaceae, living in fresh or sea water. 
These had peculiar colouring matters and were often 
without chlorophyll. The second series, Bacteriaceae 
were smaller and more dependent for food upon 
organic matter. Some of the bacteria were putre¬ 
factive, others like the bacillus of anthrax and 
tetanus passed into the body and fed on the living 
substance; whilst others, like diptheria, did not 
enter the body, but produced on the outside a poison 
which was absorbed. Some of the spherical forms, 
as for instance the typhoid bacillus, were able to 
develop filaments by which they moved. 
- —tm - 
VALLOTA PURPUREA. 
These useful autumn-flowering bulbs are beginning 
to grow afresh, so they should be overhauled at 
once. The plants resent being disturbed too often 
and grow and flower freely for several years with¬ 
out repotting, though the surface soil should be 
loosened each year about this date and removed, 
giving them a top-dressing of fairly rich soil. Our 
batch did not flower very freely last autumn, so I 
have had them all shaken out and repotted. This 
operation had not been done for the past seven 
years. The bulbs were sorted as to size, placing 
from five to seven in an 8 in. pot, three or four in a 
6 in., or a single bulb in a 4I in., or 5 in. pot. The 
last two sizes given are very useful for small vases, 
the bulb carrying two spikes of bloom. 
With the knowledge that the bulbs will remain in 
the same pots four or five years, a fairly lasting 
compost should be given them, which in our case 
consisted of fibrous loam, peat, leaf-soil, and enough 
river sand to keep it porous, the first-named predomi¬ 
nating. A small quantity of bone meal could be 
added to this, if at hand. After potting, stand them 
in a cold pit or frame kept fairly close, and lightly 
syringe overhead two or three times a day, 
shading from the sun, until you see they have got 
hold of the new soil, when more air must be given 
them and shading dispensed with. They require an 
abundance of air and water during their growing 
season from the month of April to the end of July. 
After that date they can be advantageously stood 
outdoors in this mild country until the flowers are 
about to open, when they should be removed to a 
greenhouse. Manure water should be afforded those 
that have not been repotted, thrice a week ; while 
those that have been given new soil will scarcely 
require any stimulant the first season. In any case 
it should not be given until you perceive the flower 
spikes showing, and then it should be weak. After 
flowering, less water will suffice, in fact, water can be 
withheld altogether during December and the two 
succeeding months, if the plants are not placed in a 
too drying position, which they should not be. They 
are fairly hardy ; all that is required is merely to 
keep them away from severe frost. I have had our pots 
frozen quite hard, but no harm accrued ; of course, 
they were fairly dry at the time. I find them most 
serviceable tor church decoration at harvest festivals, 
during the month of September and early October. 
— J. Mayne, Bicton. 
—--_ 
A FEAST OF DAFFODILS. 
March winds have been something more than a 
proverb this year, for into them winter has concen¬ 
trated practically the whole of its rigour, with 
disastrous results to not a few of our favourite 
plants, be it said. But the Daffodil has passed vic¬ 
torious through even this severe test, scathed it may 
be, but not destroyed, beaten to the earth by the 
malevolence of the gale, but risen again in a very tri¬ 
umph of beauty. 
When we take into consideration the grand 
weather resisting qualities of this flower of many 
parts it is not surprising that the succeeding years 
see its share of popularity steadily moving on the up 
grade and the number of its votaries as consistently 
upon the increase. Beneficent Nature, assisted by 
the hand of man has in the Daffodil given us a 
flower that is without compeer in the months of 
Match and April, and no matter whether nodding at 
us from nooks in the rockery and beds in the flower 
garden, or waving 'neath the gentle influence of 
spring zephyrs in broad stretches naturalised in 
meadow and orchard, the flowers are alike imperi¬ 
ally beautiful. At this season of the year they flood 
our markets, and are displayed in prodigal profusion 
to tempt buyers from amongst the busy moving 
masses in the thoroughfares of our great towns and 
cities. “ Narciss,” sweet " Narciss,” is the cry, and 
we welcome the heaven-born radiance of the flowers 
as we would welcome the face of spring herself. The 
breath of the country with its wide, untrammelled ex¬ 
panse of sky and meadow is in every blossom, and 
with it a message of good cheer to the busy worker 
who is debarred from participation in the exu¬ 
berant delight of a country spring. 
But if so sweet a taste of heaven lurks in the 
culled blossom, what shall be said of the place where 
the Daffodil grows, where it is nourished, cherished, 
and tended with parental care and solicitude, and 
where in return it yields ungrudgingly the whole of 
its bright beauty as tribute to its foster-parent ? A 
visit to Messrs. Barr & Sons’ nurseries at Long 
Ditton is not a new experience to us, and yet the 
glory of the Daffodils comes to us ever fresh year by 
year, and the sense of enjoyment it brings strengthens 
rather than weakens. It fell to our lot this year to 
enjoy a perfectly lovely spring day for our visit, 
when the Narcissi were absolutely at their best. The 
sight was, indeed, one to wonder at and admire, for 
we found the flowers massed as for a field day, the 
individual characteristics of each form being thus 
apparent to even a casual observer. Over these 
huge breaks of colour the eye travels with the most 
acute sensation of pleasure, for the glittering gold of 
the blooms is softened by the subtle green of the 
foliage beneath, and we do not suffer the sense of 
oppression that comes from the beholding of huge 
masses of bright colours without any appropriate 
setting. 
An idea of the magnitude of the scale upon which 
operations are conducted is furnished by the fact 
that upwards of two million bulbs of Narcissi were 
planted last year in these nurseries, and even this 
host will be scarcely sufficient to keep pace with the 
ever-growing demand. One of the most conspicuous 
features is a magnificent stretch of N. Barri con- 
spicuus. Over 180,000 bulbs of this variety alone 
were planted, all of which we found in full flower. 
If we calculate that, on an average, each bulb will 
throw four flowers, we get a grand total of 720,000 
blooms of this variety alone. Other popular varie¬ 
ties are grown in proportion, and show conclu¬ 
sively the directions in which the public fancy is 
trending. 
Daffodils fall naturally into three sections accord¬ 
ing to the size of the corona or trumpet relative to 
the segments. In all these three sections there are 
ranged varieties of surpassing beauty, and he would 
be a bold man, indeed, who would venture to 
attempt to uphold the merits of one section to the 
exclusion of those of another. 
In the Ajax (Magm-coronati) section, with its huge 
corona or trumpet, we get the largest and most 
massive flowers. The very size of many is imposing, 
although we find all sizes, since the comparatively 
small Hoop Petticoat Narcissus (N. Corbularia) is 
included. Then also we have the small forms, N. 
minimus, N. nanus and N. minor, and these lead up 
to the large-flowered forms in the order named, N. 
minimus being the smallest. The Ajax section is, 
for the sake of convenience, divided according to the 
colours of the flowers. 
First we have the self yellow varieties—in them¬ 
selves a host. Chief among them comes Glory of 
Leiden with its mammoth trumpet and segments in 
proportion—truly a noble flower. Emperor is 
another large and very popular flower that is 
especially valuable for bedding and naturalising, on 
account of its great vigour and floriferousness. P. 
R. Barr is rather smaller in size, but fully as useful. 
The perianth is primrose, and the trumpet a full 
yellow. The foliage is sturdy, of medium height, 
and quite distinct. Golden Spur is the variety for 
those who are on the look out for a good thing at a 
low price. The trumpet is large, prettily frilled at 
the margin, and rich yellow in colour. Although the 
bulbs are cheap, the flower is one of the finest of all. 
As the result of crossing N. Ajax and N. triandrus 
the ' Jobnstoni ” group has been evolved, and in it 
are several highly pretty things, one of them, N. J. 
Queen of Spain, being one of the most beautiful and 
refined Daffodils in cultivation. 
The bicolor varieties form the second division of 
the trumpet Daffodils, the segments of the perianth 
being white, and the corona some shade of yellow. 
Empress is the most useful of all in this division, 
for its vigour of habit, and the imposing character of 
the flowers have marked it out as eminently suitable 
for both naturalising and bedding purposes. J. B. 
M. Camm represents the ideal bicolor Daffodil from 
the enthusiast s point of view, and there is no doubt 
that for refinement and elegance it is hard to beat. 
A superb batch of the new Victoria was remarkable 
for the uniformity of height of the plants, and the 
size, splendour and symmetry of the flowers. 
In the white and sulphur varieties we have some 
vastly pretty forms, and also some of the most d ffi- 
cult to grow. We found N. cernuus was over, but 
its variety N. C. pulcher well sustained its reputa¬ 
tion. N. moschatus (of Haworth) is another charm¬ 
ing dwarf variety. Madame de Graaf maintains its 
reputation as one of the largest and finest white 
trumpet Daffodils in existence, it being only sur¬ 
passed by Weardale Perfection, but its price is pro¬ 
hibitive. 
In the second section, the Medio-coronati, we find 
the corona about half as long as the perianth seg¬ 
ments. The latter are often long, and we thus get 
an elegant star-shaped flower of wondrous beauty. 
Of varieties of N. incomparabilis alone there is a 
host, the most important and valuable for general 
purposes being Sir Watkin. Other varieties such as 
Gloria Mundi, G. J. Backhouse, Autocrat, Beauty, 
and Gwyther, being fully as beautiful, but less suit¬ 
able for extensive planting. N. Barrii conspicuus we 
have already alluded to, and we may now make 
mention of N. B. C. Orphee—another charming 
form. 
The varieties of N. Leedsii are legion, but all are 
chaste and beautiful. Such varieties as Minnie 
Hume, Beatrice, Duchess of Westminster, Mrs. 
Langtry, and Katharine Spurrell should be in every 
collection. At Long Ditton under Mr. J. W. Barr’s 
fostering band they acquit themselves marvellously 
well. N. Backhousei is another group which con¬ 
tains seme fine things. In addition to N. Back¬ 
housei, we have N. B. Wolley Dod and N. B. 
William Wilks, both very handsome forms. 
The third section, Parvi-coronati, contains N. 
Burbidgei and its numerous forms, N. poeticus, and 
its varieties of which N. p. poetarum, and N. p. 
ornatus are the chief. 
Novelties are ever dear to the heart of the 
specialist, and as the work of crossing with a view 
to the production of new and improved forms is 
diligently prosecuted at Long Ditton under the 
vigilent eye of Mr. J. W. Barr himself, we annually 
look for results. There is no keener or surer eye in 
the Daffodil world for meritorious novelties than 
that of Mr. Barr, and a new form has to be good as 
well as new before it is considered to be worth 
naming. There are several promising unnamed 
seedlings now in blocm, carefully protected from all 
adverse conditions. One of these (a bicolor form) 
must create a veritable furore when it is sent out, for 
its size and majesty of proportions totally eclipse 
anything that has gone before—in short, it is a 
colossus among Daffodils, for Glory of Leiden grow¬ 
ing hard by was as nothing to it, and Glory of 
Leiden is not a pigmy. 
Tis a pity that the stay of the Daffodils, like that 
of the angels, is so comparatively short, for we would 
fain keep them for ever with us, but the remem¬ 
brance they leave behind is a vivid and lasting one, 
and as delightful as it is vivid and lasting. A day 
amongst the Long Ditton Daffodils is an intellectual 
feast to be remembered and treasured as long as 
memory itself shall last 
