709 
September 30, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
certain amount of leakage, but the pots may 
be of glass or any kind of ornamental stone 
ware, and therefore waterproof. 
Narcissus V 
W Sir Watkin 
The above Daffodil was undoubtedly the 
largest of the N. incomparabilis type in culti 
vation for many years, and has only been 
superseded in size possibly by some of the 
recent hybrids, which cannot therefore be 
pronounced as a true N. incomparabilis. 
The segments are broadly oblong, blunt, 
yellow, of great substance, and stand out hori¬ 
zontally from the crown. The chalice itself 
may be described as widely bell - shaped, 
plaited, and rich golden yellow. 
For this grand variety we are indebted to 
Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, who rescued it 
from oblivion in an old-fashioned Welsh 
garden, where it had probably grown for the 
best part of a century. No one can therefore 
account for the origin of it, but one can 
imagine that it was an accidental and very 
fine wild variety that was introduced to this 
country from its native habitats, unless in 
deed it originated as a garden plant in this 
country in the olden times when Daffodils 
enjoyed a run of popularity. 
In its present size, colour, and beauty it 
was discovered, as above noted, by Messrs 
Dicksons, of Chester, and after cultivatinp 
drainage is not perfect. While that is per¬ 
fectly true under ordinary circumstances, it 
may be said that a slight modification of 
treatment is necessary in this particular case 
to gain the same object, while using pots that 
have no openings for the escape of superfluous 
water. 
The process, however, is an easy one pro¬ 
vided the cultivator is observant, careful, and 
uses discretion in the matter of watering. 
The fibre holds a certain amount of water, 
and when just sufficiently moist no further 
watering is necessary. In dwelling-rooms, 
however, there is always a certain amount of 
evaporation, and the fibre will in time get 
dry. The cultivator should then water the 
moss fibre, so that every part is thoroughly 
wetted. Should an excess of water, however, 
have been given, it is an easy matter to turn 
the pot upside down, so as to run off the 
superfluous water. A pail or any other vessel 
could be had in readiness for this operation if 
necessary. 
It may be well to remind readers, however, 
that the bulbs should be grown in the green¬ 
house or conservatory until they come into 
bloom ; then, if properly watered before they 
are taken into the dwelling-rooms, possibly 
no further watering will be required, while the 
flowers remain in a fresh and ornamental con¬ 
dition. At the same time there is the pro¬ 
vision we have already mentioned that the 
bulbs may be watered without any clanger of 
wetting valuable furniture in the dwelling- 
rooms. With ordinary flower-pots even hav¬ 
ing a saucer under them there is always a 
R. Sydenham. 
Spanish Iris (Iris Xipiiium). 
extensive, and, whether grown separately or 
in mixture, the effect is striking and cheerful. 
No one with a garden of soil suitable for 
Spanish Irises should be without some of them 
to brighten the garden in June. 
On this occasion we wish, however, to call 
attention to a very interesting method of 
growing Spanish Irises in ornamental pots 
without drainage. The bulbs are potted at 
any time during October or November for 
flowering in May, this being a month earlier 
than usual owing to their being kept under 
glass or at least indoors and cool. The orna¬ 
mental pots are filled with moss fibre instead 
of soil, and this being so, they should be 
stood in a frame or under a sash to prevent 
rain from saturating the bulbs while just 
commencing growth. The value of growing 
Spanish Irises in pots without drainage lies in 
the fact that such pots may be used in 
dwelling-rooms without any danger of wetting 
valuable furniture or tablecloths. 
The plan is not entirely new, as it has been 
practised for some years by Mr. Robert 
Sydenham, Tenby Street, .Birmingham, who 
placed the illustration at our disposal to show 
how well these Irises may be grown under this 
suspicious-looking treatment. When gardeners 
speak of potting operations they are emphatic 
in their declarations that the plants cannot be 
grown with any degree of satisfaction if the 
. Dicksons. 
Narcissus incomparabilis Sir Watkin. 
SPANISH IRIS. 
z'- 
Iris Xiphiam. 
The Spanish Irises are all descendants of 
one species, and from that point of view are 
remarkable for the variety of colours which 
thcv have furnished us without having been 
crossed with any other species. Amongst 
them we get white varieties, also blush, rose, 
lavender, purple, azure blue, violet, violet- 
purple, and yellow in a considerable number of 
shades’. Thunderbolt is a remarkable combi¬ 
nation of yellow, purple, and bronzy copper. 
It will thus be seen that the range is very 
