338 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 22, 1905 
Wymondham. Mr. Saunders undertook to report upon them at 
the next meeting. 
Fasciatton.— Mr. Chittenden showed an example of this in 
the terminal flower of the Hyacinth, and Mr. Worsdell showed 
fasciated aerial roots of Ivy reaching gin. in breadth in some 
cases. He considered the fasciation was brought about by a 
dichotomy of the growing point, and it was suggested that this 
might be due to injury by insects, etc. Dr. Masters mentioned 
that a similar thing was sometimes seen in Orchid l’oots and in 
roots of some of the Cactaceae. 
Narcissus Fly.— Mr. Chittenden showed specimens of this 
fly which he had bred, showing considerable variation in colour 
from a foxy red throughout to the commoner form with blackish 
bands. 
AVitch’s Broom on Hornbeam.— Mr. Odell showed specimens 
of this similar in appearance to those commonly seen on Birch, 
caused by a mite (Eriophyes). 
Geographical Forms of Narcissus Bulbocodium. —Miss AVill- 
mott, V.M.H., exhibited a collection of N. Bulbocodium from 
all the known habitats of that s^iecies, showing a very large 
amount of variation both in foliage and flower. A vote of thanks 
was, on the motion of Dr. Masters, seconded by Mr. Douglas, 
unanimously accorded to Miss AATllmott for her interesting 
exhibit. 
Malformed Iris.— Mr. AVorsley showed flowers of Iris bulbosa 
in which the stamens were branched, so that there were six or 
more anthers in each flower. Dr. Masters undertook to 
examine them. 
Daffodils at Ditton Hill. 
. During the month of April Daffodils may be seen practically 
every where in the southern counties of England, xvliile the 
season gradually extends northwards with the advance of the 
month. AAfliile some varieties are grown very extensively in 
the grounds of those who grow for market, we know that the 
collection is much more extensive in the Ditton Hill Nurseries 
of Messrs. Barr and Sons, of King Street, Covent Garden, than 
in any establishment where flowers are grown purely for 
market purposes. Owing to the extent and up-to-date char¬ 
acter of the collection here, lovers of Daffodils make pil¬ 
grimages from all parts of the country during their season. 
AVe have ourselves made an annual pilgrimage to the nur¬ 
series since the collection was still at Tooting, very much 
smaller than at present, and receiving practically little atten¬ 
tion from the general public. Mr. Barr had been collecting 
Daffodils for many years from a variety of sources, including 
the rich wild habitats of Spain, where he frequently went in 
quest of new or old Daffodils that had become lost to cultiva¬ 
tion. 
Ever since then he has been improving those under culti¬ 
vation by cross-breeding from the best types on an ever-ascend¬ 
ing scale, until now the range in size of the flowers of a Daf¬ 
fodil is remarkable. Very few could actually realise the dif¬ 
ference in size between Narcissus minor minimus and King 
Alfred unless they actually had the specimens brought together 
by way of contrast. Between these two extremes, however, 
there are Daffodils and Daffodils sufficient to furnish a means 
of satisfying the taste of an immense number of people with 
beautiful forms more or less distinct from one another. Many 
like ourselves are contented with flowers between the two ex¬ 
tremes, according to the purpose for which they are wanted. 
On the 7th inst. we paid our annual visit to the Long Ditton 
Nurseries, rather earlier than last year, when the Daffodils 
were considered about three weeks behind their usual time. 
A drizzling rain prevailed during most of the day, but Daffodils 
are flowers that delight in moisture, provided there are no hail¬ 
storms nor driving winds to lash the flowers about. Snow had 
fallen upon them early in the morning, but none of the flowers 
appeared to be the worse for that experience. Daffodils usually 
suffer more through lack of rain, but more particularly when 
dry East winds prevail for a week or two during the' period 
they come into bloom. Nothing of that kind has been ex¬ 
perienced this year, consequently the Daffodils were in the best 
possible condition, the flowers being large and of good texture. 
The only ill-effect, that they felt during dripping times is th< 
soiling of the blooms by the washing up of the soil. Thost 
that are wanted for cut-flower purposes could be gathered 
however, as soon as they are open or even earlier, and whei 
they open they will be in first-class condition. 
AVe propose to mention a number of the best of the more 
common kinds, and later on to recount some of the giants oj 
modern acquisition. Some of the latter are still rather ex 
pensive, though enthusiastic amateurs will procure some oi 
them at least while still scarce and rare. Amongst yellow 
Trumpet Daffodils no description of Emperor is necessary, as 
it is now grown by hundreds of thousands, possibly in millions, 
for market, for the florists’ shops everywhere are now crowded 
with this beautiful and easily procurable Daffodil. Somewhat 
scarcer is the giant Glory of Leiden, with a veiy stout trumpet 
though scarcely so graceful a Daffodil as Emperor. One of the 
best of the early varieties is Golden Spur, which seems to be 
running the old Tenby Daffodil for first place in popular esti¬ 
mation, both for its beauty, earliness, and suitability for forc¬ 
ing purposes. There is room, however, for both of these in 
every collection. Another very early flower is Countess of 
Annesley, an Irish Daffodil with a very bold trumpet. 
N. maximus is an old Daffodil of remarkable beauty still 
much held in request, though not always veiy freely flowered 
The chief beauty of it lies in the veiy wide trumpet of a golden- 
yellow colour. Some bulbs have recently been introduced from 
the Pyrenees which seemed to flower more freely and earlier 
than the cultivated bulbs, but. after a few years’ cultivation the 
flowers do not seem to differ from the well-known one. Another 
very handsome golden-yellow Daffodil which we should place 
alongside of maximus on account of its uniformly rich colour 
is Santa Maria, a variety found growing wild in Spain by Mr. 
Barr ; being one of the early varieties, it is now getting out of 
season. 
Henry living still enjoys a considerable repute not only for 
outdoor culture, but for forcing and for naturalising on the 
grass. Another fine variety now getting common is P. R. 
Barr, built somewhat after the style of Emperor and flowering 
veiy freely. AVe should also mention Sprightly as a lovely 
Daffodil of a bright golden-yellow and beautifully revolute at 
the mouth. It is well named, for its gracefulness is one of 
its most attractive features. Amongst yellow Daffodils that 
are easily procurable, the above supply not only variety, but 
will keep a place in public estimation for many years to come. 
those who are not afraid of running to a few guineas a bulb 
would find in King Alfred one of the grandest of yellow Daf¬ 
fodils in cultivation. It is, of course, quite of recent introduc¬ 
tion ; hence the reason that it is expensive. To this we might 
add a still more expensive Daffodil named Lord Roberts, char¬ 
acterised by its enormous size and massive golden-yellow 
trumpet. There will be a few growers who cannot exercise 
patience, and these t.wo> are certainly worthy of some exertion 
to procure. 
Bicolor Daffodils. 
From the old N. bicolor of Haworth a large number of varie¬ 
ties have been raised characterised by veiy broad, usually 
ovate, segments, which are vdiite, while the trumpet itself is 
more or less of bright yellow. The influence of this Daffodil 
ha.s been great, and has been extended to’ various other sec¬ 
tions, making it difficult in many cases to refer varieties to 
their proper place owing to’ the garden classification relying too 
much on colour. N. bicolor lias really introduced a difference 
in structure which gardeners usually ignore in classifying or 
grouping Daffodils. In any case, the broad segments and 
colour as well apply to most of those which we shall here name 
bicolor Daffodils. 
The earliest of this group were N. bicolor Horsfieldii and 
Empress, flowering in this order. Both are now grown by 
thousands, and are easily procurable. Another splendid Daf¬ 
fodil of this type is Grandis or Grandee, which has distinctly 
shorter white segments and a narrow trumpet. Its chief value, 
hov r ever, lies in the fact that it flowers about a fortnight later 
than the above two when grown in the open air. A highly re- 
