356 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  16,  1896 
Tbe  flowers  in  this  exhibit  were  arranged  rather  too  thinly,  and  the 
general  appearance  was  somewhat  detracted  from  thereby. 
There  was  apparently  only  one  exhibitor  in  the  class  for  eighteen 
varieties  of  Daffodils  of  the  large  Trumpet  section.  Dr.  Crawford, 
Glasgow,  secured  the  premier  award.  His  flowers  were  of  splendid 
quality,  and  finely  coloured.  For  eighteen  distinct  varieties  of  the 
medium-cupped  section  R.  Maitland,  Esq.,  Wardour  Lodge,  Sunning- 
dale,  was  the  first  prizewinner.  Amongst  the  varieties  were  Autocrat, 
Mabel  Cowan,  rugilosus.  James  Bateman,  Flora  Wilson,  Nelsoni  major, 
and  Mrs.  Langtry.  For  ten  varieties  of  the  same  section  Mrs. 
G.  Hayden,  Hatfield  Vicarage,  Doncaster,  the  only  competitor,  received 
the  premier  award,  the  same  exhibitor  occupying  a  like  position  for  six 
varieties  of  the  small-cupped  type. 
The  first  prize  for  six  distinct  double  Daffodils  went  to  Miss  Crawford 
with  some  good  flowers  This  exhibitor  was  again  successful  for  twenty 
distinct  Daffodils  with  flowers  of  good  quality,  Dr.  Crawford  being 
second.  The  same  exhibitors  mentioned  above  shared  the  honours  in 
the  class  for  the  best  flowers  in  the  show. 
Six  tables  of  Daffodils  arranged  with  other  foliage  were  entered  and 
tbe  graceful  exhibit  of  Mr.  A.  F.  Youens  was  placed  first.  Mrs.  W.  Mole 
second,  and  Mr.  J.  Prewett  third.  For  a  bouquet,  of  Daffodils  Mr.  A.  F. 
Youens  was  first,  Mrs.  W.  Green,  jun.,  Harold  Wood,  second,  and  Mrs. 
W.  Mole  third.  Miss  Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House,  Acton,  was  first 
for  a  bowl  of  cut  Daffodils,  Mrs.  W.  Mole  second,  and  Mr.  J.  Prewett 
third. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  Amaryllis  Mr.  Perkins,  gardener  to  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Smith,  Henley-on-Tbames,  was  placed  first  with  some  finely  grown 
plants  ;  Mr.  J.  Douglas,  Great  Gearies,  taking  the  second  position.  Mr. 
Jas.  Douglas  was  first  with  a  collection  of  Cinerarias,  showing  well 
flowered  specimens.  The  same  exhibitor  was  also  first  with  twelve 
Auriculas,  showing  a  collection  comprised  chiefly  of  distinctly  marked 
seedlings.  Mr.  W.  Rumeey  was  the  only  exhibitor  of  six  Roses  in  pots, 
and  was  awarded  the  first  prize  for  Madame  Hoste,  L’ldeal,  The  Queen, 
Magaa  Charta,  and  Niphetos. 
In  the  miscellaneous  section  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries, 
Tottenham,  exhibited  a  very  handsome  group  of  Daffodils,  representing 
the  majority  of  the  sections.  Masses  were  staged  of  such  varieties  as 
Sir  Watkin,  Leedsi.  Emperor,  bicolor  grandis,  Horsefieldi,  Nelsoni  major, 
Barri  conspicua,  Princess  Mary  of  Cambridge,  Poeticus  and  several 
others.  Almost  all  the  flowers  were  of  fine  quality,  and  the  colours 
were  well  developed.  Mr.  W.  J.  Caparn,  Oundle,  sent  a  few  Irises. 
Comprising  magnificent  flowers,  both  in  respect  of  size,  substance, 
and  colouration,  was  the  group  of  Daffodils  from  Messrs.  Barr  &  Son, 
King  Street,  Covent  Garden.  The  blooms  were  done  up  in  spray  form, 
and  shown  in  bottles.  The  arrangement,  too,  of  the  various  colours 
was  highly  creditable,  and  showed  the  flowers  off  to  the  best  advantage. 
Prominent  amongst  the  many  were  Weardale  Perfection,  Sir  Watkin, 
bicolor,  Horsefieldi,  Emperor,  J.  G.  Baker,  Madame  de  Graaff,  Glory  of 
Leyden,  Maximus,  Lady  Grosvenor,  various  form  of  Poeticus,  Harrison 
Weir,  Dorothy  E.  Wemys,  Barri  conspicua,  and  several  others. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Royal  Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea,  showed  a 
handsome  group.  The  flowers  were  very  fine  in  quality,  being  of  good 
size  and  rich  and  clear  in  colour.  Maximus,  Emperor,  Leedsi,  Minnie 
Hume,  bicolor  Empress,  Rossini,  bicolor  grandis,  Mrs.  W.  T.  Ware, 
incomparabilis  Figaro,  Shirley  Hibberd,  Glory  of  Leyden,  J.  B.  M. 
Camm,  Golden  Plover,  Little  Gem,  Poeticus  in  variety,  Polyanthus 
varieties,  Barri  conspicua,  Barri  Flora  Wilson,  Burbidgei,  and  cernuus 
pulcher  amongst  others  were  the  most  beautiful. 
The  Roses  in  pots  and  in  a  cut  state  from  Mr.  W.  Rumsey,  Joyning’s 
Nurseries,  Waltham  Cross,  were  highly  creditable.  The  varieties 
noticed  were  The  Bride,  Victor  Verdier,  Niphetos,  Ulrich  Brunner, 
Madame  Heste,  Margaret  Dickson,  Marechal  Niel,  Silver  Queen,  Madame 
Montet,  and  Suneet.  Mr.  John  Walker,  Thame,  Oxon,  staged  four  boxes 
of  cut  Roses  in  charming  condition.  These  were  Mardchal  Niel, 
Niphetos,  Gloire  de  Dijon,  Lamarque,  W.  A.  Richardson,  and  a  few 
others. 
Mr.  Frank  Cant,  Colchester,  was  represented  by  a  superb  exhibit  of 
cut  Roses,  in  which  both  variety  and  shapely  flowers  were  conspicuous. 
Very  striking  were  Madame  Victor  Verdier,  Ethel  Brownlow,  Princess 
of  Wales,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Francisca  Kruger,  The  Bride.  Innocente 
Pirola,  Gdndral  Jacqueminot,  Captain  Christy,  Niphetos,  Ernest  Metz, 
Caroline  Testout,  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Fisher  Holmes, 
Rubens,  and  others. 
The  hardy  flowers  staged  by  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Tottenham,  were  very 
attractive,  and  amidst  the  great  variety  were  noticed  Primulas 
Sieboldi  rosea  striata,  Ware’s  White,  General  Gordon,  Admiration,  and 
P.  Cashmeriana,  Adonis  vernalis,  Trillium  grandiflorum,  Megasea  cordi- 
folia  purpurea,  Spiraea  multiflora  compacta,  Ranunculus  amplexicaulis, 
Fritillaria  imperialis  lutea,  Polygonatum  virginicum,  Saxifraga 
Haworthi,  Orchises  longicornus,  and  pallens,  with  Irises  in  variety.  Mr. 
Ware  also  sent  a  striking  collection  of  Begonias,  mainly  double,  and 
amongst  others  were  noticed  Goliath,  Pride  of  Bexley,  Samuel  Pope, 
Bexley  Gem,  and  Miss  Dora  Richards.  The  plants  were  tastefully 
arranged  with  Palms  and  Ferns,  and  were  much  admired. 
Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  set  up  a  pleasing 
collecting  of  flowering  plants,  interspersed  with  Palms  and  Ferns, 
and  consisting  chiefly  of  Clivias  Vcrschaffelti,  Baroness  Schroder, 
Firefly,  Atro-sanguinea,  and  Martha  Reimers ;  Hippeastrums,  Dr. 
Masters,  Morning  Star,  Holloway  Belle,  Red  Prince,  Distinction, 
Empress  of  India,  Mr.  Morley,  Lady  Dorington,  and  Crown  Prince  of 
Germany,  together  with  a  number  of  plants  of  Boronia  megastigma. 
Floral  certificates  were  awarded  to  Begonias  Miss  Alice  Sparrow  and 
Miss  Lily  Sawford  from  Mr.  T,  S.  Ware,  and  to  Narcissus  Cormoran 
from  the  Rev.  C,  Wolley  Dod. 
Daffodil  Conference. 
Tbe  Conference  was  held  in  the  Museum,  a  moderate  attendance 
being  present.  The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker,  of  the 
Herbarium,  Kew,  who  commenced  the  proceedings  by  presenting  Mr. 
F.  W.  Burbidge  with  a  silver  cup  awarded  to  him  by  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Son  in  recognition  of  the  valuable  assistance  rendered  in  popularising 
the  Daffodil  The  Chairman  spoke  briefly  but  in  highly  eulogistic  terms 
of  Mr.  Burbidge’s  work  amongst  these  popular  flowers,  in  which  he  has 
taken  so  great  an  interest,  and  introduced  him  to  the  audience  as  the 
reader  of  the  first  paper,  in  which  he  dealt  with  the  past,  present,  and 
future  of  the  Narcissi. 
In  the  opening  passages  of  his  highly  interesting  address,  Mr. 
Burbidge  dwelt  on  the  past  history  of  the  Narcissus,  stating  the  flower 
had  for  ages  been  popular,  as  poets  from  the  time  of  Homer  down  to 
Tennyson  of  our  own  day  had  spoken  of  it  in  their  writings.  There  was 
every  reason  also  to  believe  that  in  past  ages  it  was  considered  of  more 
than  ordinary  value,  for  in  the  museums  at  Cairo,  Kew,  and  elsewhere, 
there  are  specimens  of  Narcissi  which  had  been  taken  from  mummy 
cases.  The  flowers  must  have  been  placed  there  long  before  the 
Christian  Era,  from  which  it  is  practically  certain  that  the  Narcissus 
was  grown  and  valued  between  3000  and  4000  years  ago. 
It  had  been  gathered  from  old  writings  in  Eastern  and  Hindustani 
languages  that  the  Narcissus  was  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  eyes, 
just  as  other  flowers  are  connected  with  the  various  features.  They  had 
reasons,  however,  for  believing  that  Narcissus  poeticus,  as  we  know  it, 
was  not  the  Narcissus  spoken  of  by  the  early  Grecian  poets  as  is  often 
supposed,  and  it  is,  therefore,  somewhat  of  a  usurper,  as  the  Bunch  or 
Cluster-flow7ered  Narcissus  was  the  one  found  in  Italy,  and  it  is  to  this 
flower  which  the  ancient  writers  allude.  The  Lent  Lily  or  common 
Daffodil,  continued  the  essayist,  was  the  only  one  native  to  the  British 
Islands,  and  as  many  others  have  been  naturalised,  it  is  often  a  matter 
for  wonder  as  to  where  they  came  from.  As  Cornwall  and  the  Scilly 
Islands  are  famous  for  Daffodils,  and  were  once  noted  for  their  mineral 
productions  of  tin,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  early  traders  from 
Southern  Europe  when  they  came  there  for  the  purpose  of  barter  brought 
with  them  the  products  of  their  own  lands  in  the  shape  cf  Narcissus 
bulbs,  and  in  exchange  took  back  mineral ;  and  though  the  mining 
industry  of  those  districts  had  long  since  died  out,  those  early  tradings 
had  assisted  in  building  up  the  enormous  flower  trade  that  is  carried  on 
there  at  the  present  day. 
No  other  soil  in  the  kingdom  suits  Narcissi  so  well  as  that  of  the 
Scilly  Islands,  this  accounting  in  no  small  degree  for  the  large  traffic 
in  these  flowers.  In  Cornwall,  also,  the  Narcissus  is  one  of  the  most 
profitable  crops  of  the  day,  and  those  engaged  in  it,  like  the  sheep 
farmers  of  the  Colonies,  gain  a  twofold  profit,  for  whereas  the  latter 
produce  and  export  both  wool  and  mutton,  the  Narcissus  growers  reap 
their  harvest  from  both  bulbs  and  flowers. 
It  is  interesting  also,  remarked  Mr.  Burbidge,  to  note  that  the 
working  and  artizan  classes  are  the  chief  supporters  of  this  great 
industry,  encouraging,  as  they  do,  the  flower  by  being  purchasers  of  the 
bulk  of  the  produce  ;  therefore  the  successful  Narcissus  grower  is  in  his 
way  a  minister  by  being  the  means  of  bringing  freshness  and  beauty 
into  the  homes  of  the  working  population.  The  Narcissus,  he  continued, 
was  truly  a  democratic  flower,  and  as  such  we  love  it ;  for,  as  Parkinson 
puts  it,  it  is  admired  as  much  in  an  artizan’s  garden  as  that  of  a  duke, 
A  Greek  writer  has  said  that  we  should  take  great  care  of  the  beautiful, 
as  the  good  and  true  will  take  care  of  itself. 
The  cultivation  of  Narcissi  may  be  looked  on  as  the  salvation  of 
many  an  agriculturist,  for  whereas  an  acre  of  Wheat  may  be  valued  at 
from  £20  to  £30,  a  similar  area  of  Narcissi  might  be  worth  anything, 
from  £60  to  £600,  according  to  tbe  varieties  ;  but  he  was  not  prepared 
to  say  what  the  value  of  an  acre  of  the  best  Narcissi  might  be  worth. 
Mr.  Burbidge  stated  that  twelve  months  ago  he  was  in  the  Scilly 
Isles,  and  was  astonished  beyond  explanation  at  the  beauty  and  freshness 
which  the  large  areas  of  Narcissi  presented,  and  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
extent  of  the  industry  he  added  that  no  less  than  27  tons  of  flowers  were 
landed  at  Penzance  on  one  day  in  March  last.  As  to  the  growth  of  the 
traffic,  in  1885  65  tons  were  dispatched  during  the  season  ;  in  1886, 
85  tons ;  in  1887,  100  tons  ;  in  1888,  188  tons;  in  1889,  198  tons,  and 
during  the  past  five  or  six  years  the  last  mentioned  figures  had  been 
greatly  exceeded.  Bulbs  have  also  been  sold  in  large  quantities,  and  ss 
they  can  be  grown  in  all  parts  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  much  may 
be  expected  of  the  Narcissus  in  the  future. 
Speaking  of  the  future  of  this  popular  flower,  the  essayist  said  that 
to  prophesy  might  be  risky,  but  still  we  may  observe  the  shadows,  and 
as  the  Narcissus  is  early,  hardy,  shapely,  showy,  increases  with  great 
rapidity,  and  will  grow  in  almost  all  positions,  much  might  be  expected 
of  it.  To  grow  them  well  shelter  is  necessary.  They  will  grow  near  the 
sea  or  away  from  it,  but  he  considered  the  future  of  the  Narcissus 
consisted  chiefly  in  obtaining  a  more  rigid  selection  and  getting  better 
varieties. 
There  are  twenty  or  thirty  species  of  Narcissus  now  in  cultivation, 
but  out  of  these  there  were  only  three  that  assisted  us  much  for  general 
garden  use — namely,  tbe  common  pseudo-Narcissus  in  all  its  forms, 
poeticus  in  all  i's  forms,  and  the  varieties  of  incomparabilis  which  are 
produced  by  crossing  the  above  ;  that  all  these  come  true  from  seeds  and 
hybridise  with  each  other  has  been  proved  over  and  over  again  by  the 
Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart  and  numerous  other  raisers.  What  we  want  now 
that  has  not  been  obtained,  continued  Mr.  Burbidge,  are  finer  form  and 
