May 14, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
403 
On the Editor’s Table. 
Daffodils from Chester. 
Narcissus Leedsii Elaine. —In the early days of the hybridi¬ 
sation of Daffodils which produced the modem races, N. Leedsii 
was produced from N. poculiformis and N. incomparabilis. 
This wave a race of pale-flowered Daffodils with white segments, 
and very slender in most cases in their proportions. About 
fifty of these forms of N. Leedsii were at one time named, but 
most of them have disappeared from nurserymen’s catalogues. 
Since then, however, the list has been largely supplemented by 
fresh hybrids, produced by raisers who have worked, and are 
still working, with some definite object in view. This is to get 
more solid and larger flowers, with much better'texture* than 
was possessed by the old forms of N. Leedsii. 
One of the indefatigable workers in this line is the Rev. 
G. H. Engleheart, "who seems to* have raised hundreds of dif¬ 
ferent forms of the medium-crowned or cha.lice Daffodils. N. 
Leedsii Elaine was on© of the forms of his raising, which re¬ 
ceived a, First-class Certificate from the Narcissus Committee 
of the R.H.S. on May 7th, 1901. 
We are now in a position to illustrate this beautiful variety 
from flowers sent us by Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, who* now 
offer the variety for the first time in their list of Daffodils. 
The flowers measure 3 in. and 3J in. across the expanded 
perianth. The* segments are* very broad, imbricated in their 
lower half, and of a, beautiful pale ivory-white. The chalice is 
comparatively short for N. Leedsii, but still sufficiently long to 
place* it in that categoiy. When first expanded it is pale 
lemon, but gradually fades off almost to white, and, being cup- 
sliaped and widely expanded, it sets off the centre of the flower 
handsomely. The flowers are also* sweetly, though not so 
powerfully, scented as the* forms of N. poeticus. 
This hybrid variety will be* very valuable for cutting after 
it has become sufficiently plentiful. The* flowers* are* slightly 
nodding, but stand up gracefully when placed loosely in glass 
or other vases of water. When the* flowers reached us they 
were* completely crumpled up owing to the dryness *of the bo*x, 
but after two hours in water they expanded t,o* perfection as 
shown in the photograph. The* variety blooms in the second 
half of April, but this year will last* till well into May, and in 
water the blooms are very durable. 
Messrs. Dicksons also* sent us a bunch o*f various choice and 
better-known Daffodils now in bloom. Mme. de Graaff was 
in first-class condition, and quite equal to the best in size of 
its kind. Other varieties allied to this were* Mrs*. 
Camm and J. B. M. Camm, both of them being 
smaller than Mme. de Graaff, but similar in colour. 
Mrs. Camm we consider the better of the two, though the 
trumpet of J. B. M. Camm is of a darker lemon. No* collec¬ 
tion can be complete* or well represented that does not contain 
Horsfieldi and Empress*. Emperor belongs to this same class, 
but has a* more* massive trumpet, and the flowers are yellow. 
Those who* have* Glory of Leiden well know that it is notable 
for the great width of its trumpet, which is only slightly 
widened at the mouth and not flanged in the same way as 
Mme. de Graaff. A very popular one is N. maximus, often 
spoken of as Trumpet maximus, with uniformly golden-yellow 
flowers and a widely-expanded and flanged trumpet. Grandee 
is amongst the latest* of the trumpet* varieties t*o* com© into 
i bloom *and the dwarfest*. It. is now in full bloom, however, at 
| Chester, and is notable for the broad over-lapping white seg¬ 
ments and the deep yellow trumpet*. The dwarf habit* is also 
: accompanied by very broad, glaucous lea.ve*s. The variety 
! might be more extensively planted for late decoration of the 
garden. 
Amongst the smaller Daffodils that have been introduced 
from a* wild condition, none is prettier than N. .Tohnstoni Queen 
of Spain, which has the segments* more or less reflexed after 
the manner of cyclamineus*, but more* often twisted and not 
lying closely against the tube. The* whole flower is o*f a* beau¬ 
tiful soft lemon and certainly handsome. Apparently it is* a 
natural hybrid between some of the* trumpet forms* and N. 
triandrus', for it has been reproduced artificially both in form 
and colour, though generally larger owing to some large 
modern trumpet variety having been used in the parentage. 
A number of the medium-crowned Daffodils were* also* sent 
us, and the first place must be* given to* Sir Wa.tkin, which was 
originally rescued from oblivion by Messrs. Dicksons in a. Welsh 
garden, and now finds* a. place in every collection of Daffodils. 
The massive trumpet and flower generally have long remained 
unrivalled by any variety in commerce*. Particularly fine 
was N. aurantius plenus, having yellow segments interleaved 
with orange ones about half the length. Another double 
medium-crowned Daffodil was* albus aurantius plenus, the s*e*g- 
ments* of which were white, interleaved with short, bright 
orange ones, thus making a* beautiful contrast. These twoi 
double varieties belong to N. incomparabilis. The same might 
be said of Cynosure, a, single large starry flower with pale 
segments and a yellow crown edged with orange. 
Duchess of Westminster is a, variety of N. Leedsii, having 
overlapping white segments and a lemon* crown. This variety 
Narcissus Leedsii Elaine. 
is very serviceable* for spring bedding", and is often used for 
that purpose in parks and private gardens. Two* fine varieties 
were also sent us belonging to* the Barri section, and both of 
them are indispensable where plenty of flowers* are desired. 
There is no freer-flowering variety than, N. B. conispicuus, with 
its pale lemon overlapping segments and bright orange edge 
to the* crown. The variety is- also- sweetly scented. The other 
variety to* which we alluded is* Mrs*. C. Bowley, with nearly 
white segments and a* short* wide cup of a* rich orange* to* the 
base, and beautifully plaited. The small double* Campemelle 
(N. odo-rusi minor plenus) was a, sweet thing in, its way, the 
blooms being of moderate s*ize and made up of light, and dark 
yellow segments and sweetly scented. It is* an easily-grown 
flower and useful for cut* flowers or for garden decoration, last¬ 
ing a long time in good condition. 
The Broccoli season is over ill the Euan Minor district, Ply¬ 
mouth, and the farmers have commenced to clear the fields for 
the tilling of corn. 
