DAFFODILS — A REPORT 
Again a full year has gone by since I wrote my 
last report. More new varieties have been tested by 
us; we have had an opportunity to look once more 
at some of our old friends. We are becoming, I find, 
even more critical and severe in our judgments and 
the present list is pared down to the very essentials 
of a distinguished collection of daffodils. No longer 
can we claim to grow the largest and widest selec- 
tion. No longer do we strive to have all the newest 
and most publicized ones, apart from the choice few 
that we have raised and named ourselves. But walk- 
ing up and down the rows of these novelties, grown 
by us in a separate field, I came to the conclusion 
this past spring that what we have assembled there 
is good. 
It has often been said that most of the great 
artists of the world have had great economic strug- 
gles and that thereby their work has gained depth 
and strength. Mere hardship does not, however, 
tend to produce great men. All it can do is give 
greater understanding, sophistication and maturity. 
It occurred to me that we too have gained from the 
tougher struggle in the face of competition from 
abroad. When everything could be sold without 
difficulties, we looked upon our lesser stars with 
almost as much affection as we lavished on our out- 
standing novelties. Now, rudely awakened, we ex- 
amine every variety critically and keep only the 
best. 
Judged that way, the only correct standard for 
daffodils on a commercial farm, we came to the 
conclusion that, for instance, it was no use continu- 
ing with Croesus when, for the same cost we could 
produce the much better Damson. We eliminated a 
great many other varieties, choosing in each case to 
retain the better or the best of similar type and 
coloring. Thus, while our list is much smaller than 
in any previous year, I can say quite confidently 
that the public is not the loser. Every color, form 
and type are well represented. Additionally, we 
offer again a small number of our own introduc- 
tions, new daffodils that have stood the test of our 
most severe and critical appraisal. 
It has sometimes occurred to me that it has been 
a mistake to name the many hundreds of varieties 
that I have grown for years and then discarded. We 
could have undoubtedly saved ourselves many thou- 
sands of dollars if we had never stocked them. I 
must, however, admit that it takes years of study and 
steady production to discover which varieties are 
good. Then when one finally arrives at this point of 
discernment, the tragedy is that good varieties, fa- 
vorites such as Thalia, Mrs. R. O. Backhouse, Tunis 
and so many others are now sold at prices that will 
barely pay for their production. Our loss is your 
gain, since now you can buy acclimated, selected 
Oregon-grown daffodils of superlative quality at the 
lowest prices ever. 
For the 1954 season we have planted back no 
more than eighty acres of daffodils. By selection of 
not only the best varieties, but also of the best plant- 
ing stock of each kind, this planting is the finest 
we have ever made. After several years of rest. and 
covercropping, we have again planted some of our 
best fields to bulbs, fields which should be most 
photogenic when April comes around again. We 
hope that you will visit us at that time. There is a 
rapidly growing interest in new daffodils. Paul Frese, 
the genial editor of Popular Gardening, feels the 
time is ripe to start a daffodil society and asks 
that potential charter-members write him at his of- 
fice, 141 East 44th Street, New York City. The Puy- 
allup Valley Daffodil Festival will be held from 
April 5th to 11th with the parade of floats on April 
10th. Several garden clubs, notably in Virginia and 
Southern California, are planning shows. 
In the daffodil world perhaps this year the great- 
ets news for all amateur and commercial growers is 
the discovery of a perfect control of the daffodil fly. 
It may be that eventually resistant mutations of the 
fly will be discovered. Right now victory is in our 
hands. ‘To have a completely effective control all 
daffodils will have to be dug and dipped, but even 
a partial job will prove to be most effective, as the 
flies are killed on entering the treated bulbs. 
It is on this cheerful note that I shall conclude 
my remarks. Our love of fine daffodils is by no 
means diminished. Realizing that in order to sur- 
vive in these competitive days, the daffodil must be 
really good, we have become more critical, but by 
no means intolerant. Liking these lovely flowers 
better every year, learning to discern and appreciate 
their harmonious forms, to differentiate between 
those that balance in habit, form and color and those 
that do not make the grade, one realizes how fine a 
profession this work of ours can be. It is good to 
know that the daffodil is finding an ever wider 
appreciation in our country. It speaks well for the 
future of all gardening. 
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