April  21,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
353 
“DAFFODIL  LAND.” 
Some  readers  may  imagine  from  the  above  title  that  these  notes  will 
deal  with  Daffodils  in  Spain  and  Portugal  or  in  the  Isles  of  Scilly.  Such, 
howevei',  will  not  be  the  case.  The  Daffodil  Land  of  which  mention  is 
now  about  to  be  made  is  much  nearer  home  ;  indeed,  it  is  within  a  dozen 
miles  of  our  great  metropolis.  What  need  is  there  now  to  say  that  the 
title  is  applied  to  the  Long  Ditton  nurseries  of  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons 
None  at  all.  It  is,  indeed,  Daffodil  land,  as  all  travellers  on  the  S.W.R. 
main  line  know  so  well,  for  there  are  millions  of  bulbs  producing  more 
millions  of  flowers.  A  glorious  spectacle  indeed  is  this.  The  eye 
wanders  over  waving  masses  of  golden  Daffodils — some  large,  some  small, 
but  all  beautiful  as  well  as  useful  for  the  adornment  of  our  gardens  and 
homes  during  April  and  May.  Who  does  not  admire  the  “nodding 
Daffodil?”  Everyone,  beyond  a  doubt.  Then  let  all  who  can  visit  these 
grounds  at  once,  and  they  will  still  be  in  time  to  see  thousands  of  flowers 
of  more  than  passing  beauty.  The  best  station  to  utilise  is  Surbiton, 
whence  Daffodil  Land  is  about  fifteen  minutes’  walk. 
Though  the  head  quarters  of  the  firm  are  in  Covent  Garden,  one  of 
the  chiefs,  Mr.  William  Barr,  can  almost  invariably  be  found  at  Ditton, 
and  a  walk  through  the  nurseries  in  his  company  is  more  than  interesting 
— it  is  instructive.  Familiar  with  the  geography  of  the  Narcissus,  he  can 
tell  where  this  variety  is  found  ;  where  another  was  discovered  by  his 
father,  Mr.  Peter  Barr,  V.M.H.  ;  and  what  with  the  conversation  and 
admiring  the  many  varieties,  the  time  will  pass  all  too  quickly.  A  visitor 
on  a  recent  day  had  the  temerity  to  ask  how  many  bulbs  there  wen- 
growing  in  the  nurseries.  But  much  as  Mr.  “  Daffodil  ”  Barr  knows  ol 
his  favourite^flowers,  this  was  too  much  for  him,  though  he  ventured  to 
suggest  somewhere  between  2,000,000  and  3,000,000,  adding, 
“but  there  are  too  many  to  count.”  Just  so,  a  great  deal  too 
many  ;  and  we,  with  most  others,  would  prefer  to  see  and 
admire  the  flowers,  rather  than  commence  the  task  of  counting 
up  the  bulbs. 
As  an  example  of  the  magnitude  of  the  stock  held  by  the 
firm  it  may  be  noted  that  in  one  mass  there  are  upwards  of 
50,000  bulbs  of  Band  conspicuus,  and  this  does  not  represent 
more  than  half  the  number  of  this  variety  alone.  True,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  Narcissi  in  cultivation,  but  the 
example  is  a  fair  one  nevertheless,  for  all  others  are  as  large 
in  proportion  to  their  popularity.  In  all  there  are  17  acres 
under  cultivation,  of  which  the  major  portion  is  devoted  to 
Daffodils,  but  there  are  large  quantities  of  Pseonies,  Tulips, 
and  other*  hardy  plants.  Though  we  occasionally  hear  of 
disease  amongst  Narcissi,  the  plants  at  Ditton  are  healthy-  and 
vigorous,  and  produce  flowers  of  splendid  substance  and  very 
rich  in  colour.  It  is  possible  they  have  never  been  better 
than  this  year  in  these  two  respects,  and  if  excellent  top  growth 
may  be  taken  as  a  criterion,  the  bulbs  will  be  of  the  best 
quality  when  they  are  lifted.  They  are  all  grown  on  raised 
beds,  the  soil  of  which  has  been  thoroughly  worked  and  is  in 
splendid  mechanical  condition,  as  well  as  abounding  in  the 
food  that  the  plants  are  known  by  these  specialists  to  require. 
The  spectacle  is  such  as  can  only  be  seen  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  metropolis  at  any  rate  once  a  year,  and  it  is  therefore 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  so  many  people  find  their  way  to 
Ditton. 
A  Few  of  the  Choicer  Varieties. 
Il  we  take  the  choice  and  new  varieties  into  consideration 
it  would  be  quite  safe  to  say  that  nowhere  can  such  a  collection 
be  found.  Others  have  some  of  them  perhaps,  but  no  one  in 
such  numbers  as  those  of  Messrs.  Barr.  These,  however,  are 
not  in  the  open  field,  and  to  see  them  we  must  enter  an 
enclosure  where  they  are  comparatively  safe  from  wandering 
depredators.  It  is  an  open  question  whether  the  premier 
position  ought  to  be  accorded  to  Monarch  or  to  Weardale 
Perfection — that  is  to  say,  of  the  named  varieties,. for  there  is  an 
unnamed  bicolor  that  is  distinctly  superior  to  either.  Of  this 
more  will  probably  be  heard  another  season  when  it  has  been 
properly  tested.  Monarch  is  yellow  both  in  the  immense 
trumpet  and  in  the  perianth  segments,  while  Weardale  Per¬ 
fection  (fig.  69)  is  equally  large,  but  is  a  bicolor  having  hroad 
white  perianth  segments.  They  are  superb — both  monarchs  of 
their  respective  colours.  Let  no  one  order  rashly  of  these  two, 
however,  for  the  modest  sum  of  15  guineas  is  the  catalogue 
price  for  one  bulb  of  the  former,  while  the  latter  can  be  had 
for  10  guineas.  We  are  inclined  to  think  that  twenty  years 
ago  a  Daffodil  at  10  guineas  per  hulb  would  have  received  scant 
attention,  but  now  it  is  not  only  asked,  but  readily  enough 
obtained. 
tApricot  is  a  distinct  novelty,  and  one  which  hybridisers  of  Narcissi 
will  hail  with  pleasure,  as  the  trumpet  shows  distinct  shades  of  red  in 
the  yellow  ground  colour,  thus  imparting  unusual  richness  to  the 
flowers.  The  perianth  is  white,  and  the  flower  is  medium  sized.  Lady 
Helen  Vincent  (fig.  68),  which,  with  the  last  named,  received  an  award 
of  merit  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on  the  12th  inst.,  is  a 
handsome  variety  of  the  style  of  Emperor.  The  flowers  are  large,  very 
substantial,  and  clear  in  colour,  while  the  habit  of  the  plant  is  dwarf.  A 
beautiful  bicolor  is  Victoria,  which  may  be  succinctly  described  as  an 
improved  Empress.  The  flowers  are  of  great  substance,  and  the  bulb  is  a 
strong  grower.  Another  handsome  variety  is  Fred  Moore,  of  which  the 
broad  perianth  segments  are  pale  yellow,  and  the  deep,  shapely  trumpet 
clear  yellow.  Mrs.  Walter  Ware  is  the  name  of  a  very  attractive  bicolor. 
The  perianth  is  pure  white,  and  the  frilled  trumpet  golden  yellow.  This 
variety  is  a  free  yet  dwarf  grower  and  a  profuse  ttowerer.  The  stately 
Glory  of  Leyden  is  now  comparatively  well  known,  as  is  the  showy 
Gloria  Mundi,  which  belongs  to  the  incoraparabilis  section,  and  is  con¬ 
spicuous  mainly  by  reason  of  its  brilliant  orange  crown.  With  Uemarquable 
the  list  of  newer  ones  must  close.  It  is  of  dwarf  habit,  and  the  colour 
of  the  broad-mouthed  trumjiet  is  very  rich  yellow  ;  the  perianth  segments 
are  much  paler. 
Some  Older  Varieties. 
Amidst  the  host  of  older  varieties  there  are  some  that  still  stand 
above  the  remainder,  such,  for  example,  as  Emperor,  Empress,  Sir  Watkin, 
Band  conspicuus,  Horsefieldi,  and  maximus,  all  of  which  ought  to  have  a 
place  in  every  garden  where  Narcissi  are  appreciated.  Golden  Spur,  a 
beautiful  form  of  maximus,  and  P.  R.  Barr,  a  rather  small  variety  of 
Emperor,  must  not  be  overlooked,  any  more  than  should  bicolor  grandis, 
which  is  so  valuable  for  late  flowering.  The  lovely  Johnstoni  Queen  of 
Spain  will  long  remain  popular,  as  will  M.  J.  Berkeley,  J.  B.  M.  Camm, 
Michael  Foster,  and  princeps.  Of  the  lighter  forms,  of  which  moschatus 
and  cernuus  may  be  quoted  as  typical,  the  best  include  Cecilia  de  Graaff, 
Exquisite,  pallidus  prtcox,  William  Golilring,  and  W.  P.  Milner,  with 
Snowflake,  but  the  later  and  the  fir.st  named  are  rather  scarce,  and  hence 
the  price  is  somewhat  high.  These  are  a  few  of  the  many  Inrge  trumpet 
varieties  that  are  to  be  seen  in  such  good  condition  at  Ditton,  and  all  of 
which  are  well  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  collection. 
Of  the  incoraparabilis,  one  has  been  named  as  a  standard  variety  — 
namely.  Sir  Watkin,  to  which  we  might  advantageously  add  Beauty, 
C.  .1.  Backhouse,  Frank  Miles,  Goliath,  Queen  Bess,  Princess  Mary,  and 
Autocrat  as  being  above  the  average  of  merit.  Besides  Barri  conspicuus, 
B.  Sensation  and  B.  Maurice  Vilmorin  must  be  grown  ;  while  of  Leedsis, 
Gem,  Grand  Duchess,  Catherine  Spurrell,  M.  Magdalene  de  Graaff, 
Mmnie  Hume,  and  Mrs.  Langtry  ought  not  to  be  forgotten. 
And  so  one  might  go  on  enumerating  charming  single  varieties  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  doubles,  amongst  which  the  common  double  Daffodil  still 
stands  pre-eminent.  But  we  must  stop.  Those  who  would  learn  more 
or  see  those  mentioned  must  go  to  Ditton  at  once,  or  the  chance  of 
admiring  them  will  be  gone  for  yet  another  year. —  Daff. 
Fig.  69. -Narcissus  Weardale  Perfection. 
