August  20  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDE:\ER. 
175 
Another  variety  is  the  most  beautiful  Sir  Watkin.oae  of  the  fiaeat  of  the 
incomparabilis  group,  with  Princepa  and  W.  P.  Milner,  followed  by 
that  White  Leedsi,  Mrs.  Langtry,  and  Flora  Wilson,  with  her  pearly 
white  perianth  and  orange  scarlet  cup.  The  caltivation  in  grass  is  very 
simple.  Cut  out  a  square  piece  of  the  turf  with  the  spade  ;  place  the 
bulbs  in  the  prepared  places,  return  the  turf,  press  it  firmly  back  into 
its  place,  and  then  leave  them  until  spring  time,  when  you  will  be 
reward&l  for  your  labours  by  their  green  foliage  and  golden  blossoms. 
For  cultivation  in  beds  and  borders  the  following  list  contains  some 
of  the  best  varieties  given  in  their  proper  order.  I  would  here  mention 
that  at  the  Daffodil  Conference  held  in  London  in  April,  1884,  Mr.  J.  G. 
Baker  of  the  Boyal  Gardens,  Kew,  made  a  new  classification  of  this 
.popular  family,  and  divided  them  into  three  divisions — viz.,  No.  1, 
Magnicoronati,  or  Trumpet  Daffodil.  No.  2,  Medicoronati,  having  the 
crown  or  cap,  as  it  is  called,  half  as  long  as  the  divisions  of  the  perianth, 
except  in  one  or  two  cases  in  which  it  is  three-quarters  as  long.  No.  3 
division,  Parvicoronati,  with  crowns  lesa  than  half  as  long  as  the  divisions 
of  the  perianth. 
Teumpet  Daffodils. 
Having  described  the  three  divisions,  I  will  take  first  the  Trumpet 
•varieties,  or  division  No.  1,  and  name  a  few  of  the  best  varieties,  such 
>as  do  well  with  us  in  our  soil  and  position  in  the  gardens  at  Totley  Hall, 
I  do  not  quote  them  in  successional  order  as  they  flower,  but  will  begin 
with  Captain  Nelson,  soft,  clear,  yellow  trumpet,  with  large  spreading 
perianth.  The  next  one  is  Distinction,  a  large  and  well-form^  flower, 
with  broad  perianth.  Edw.  Leeds,  a  large,  handsome  variety.  Then 
follows  Emperor,  which  was  raised  by  Mr.  William  Backhouse  at 
Darlington,  a  fine,  well  formed  flower,  with  deep  primrose  perianth,  and 
rich  yellow  trumpet.  We  have  a  large  bed  of  this  unique  variety  con¬ 
taining  about  1600  bulbs.  When  they  are  in  full  bloom  it  is  a  gorgeous 
sight.  This  variety  always  blooms  well  the  first  year  after  it  has  been 
•replanted,  and  likes  a  richer  soil  than  some  of  the  other  varieties.  Glory 
of  Leyden  comes  next.  It  has  large  yellow  trumpet  and  perianth,  but 
rather  coarser  than  some  of  its  companions,  in  the  perianth  more  par¬ 
ticularly,  Golden  Spar  is  a  fine  sort,  and  very  early.  Henry  Irving, 
Her  Majesty,  and  J.  G.  Baker  are  three  very  good  sorts,  and  quite 
distinct.  Then  we  have  the  beautiful  rich  yellow  Maximus.  It  is  very 
telling  in  a  collection,  but  not  a  very  free  bloomer,  and  it  does  not  like 
manure.  M.  J.  Berkley  is  another  flue  form  worth  cultivating,  a  little 
■larger  than  the  last  named  variety.  P.  R.  Barr  is  a  very  sturdy  and 
dwarf  grower,  and  a  very  free  bloomer. 
I  have  named  a  few  of  the  best  yellow  self  varieties  belonging  to 
the  Ajax  section,  but  I  must  not  forget  the  minimus,  the  smallest  trumpet 
variety  in  this  section.  It  makes  a  pretty  edging  for  some  of  its  taller 
companions.  I  will  now  mention  a  few  of  the  bicolor  varieties,  beginning 
with  the  Empress,  a  companion  to  Emperor.  Both  these  Imperial  forms 
are  the  work  of  the  late  Mr.  Wm.  Backhouse.  It  has  a  white  perianth 
of  great  substance,  with  a  rich  yellow  trumpet,  combined  with  fine 
shape.  When  grown  in  pots— four  or  five  bulbs  in  a  7-inch  pot — and 
slightly  forced  into  bloom,  it  makes  a  grand  show  in  the  conservatory, 
where  it  can  be  inspected,  and  the  real  beauty  of  the  flower  protected 
from  wind  and  rain.  One  that  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  Empress 
is  Horsefieldi,  which  grows  freely  and  multiplies  quickly.  Its  blooms 
last  a  long  time.  This  Daffodil  was  raised  by  a  Lancashire  hand-loom 
weaver,  who,  noticing  a  ripe  pod  of  seed  amongst  his  Daffodils,  gathered 
and  sowed  it,  and  from  this  seed  sprang  up  Horsefieldi.  Empress  has  a 
■flatter  perianth,  and  does  not  bloom  quite  so  soon.  Then  we  have 
Alfred  Parsons,  Dean  Herbert,  Charles  Dickens,  Harrison  Weir,  James 
Walker,  and  J.  B.  M.  Camm,  with  white  perianths  and  primrose 
trumpets.  Madame  Plemp  is  a  flue  gorgeous  variety,  with  rich  golden 
trumpet,  but  it  is  rather  coarse  in  the  perianth.  Prince ps  is  a  larger 
■flower,  and  very  early.  Grandee  is  an  acquisition  to  the  bicolor  section, 
it  is  very  dwarf,  and  quite  distinct,  the  perianth  being  pure  white,  and 
the  trumpet  a  rich  yellow  finely  imbricated.  It  is  very  useful  for 
decoration  when  cut,  because  of  its  late  flowering  qualities. 
Having  finished  with  the  white-winged  varieties,  I  will  turn  to  the 
whites  and  sulphurs  in  the  Ajax  section.  The  first  ohe  is  Mrs.  J.  B.  M. 
Camm,  I  think  one  of  the  loveliest  white  forms  we  have  in  the  Ajax 
group.  Unfortunately,  it  is  not  one  of  the  best  to  grow.  It  likes  a 
sunny  slope  where  the  soil  is  light  and  sandy,  but  is  not  partial  to 
manure.  Matson  Vincent  is  a  splendid  little  flower,  and  well  worth  a 
place  in  every  collection.  Albicans,  Colleen  Bawn,  and  the  beautiful 
Countess  of  Desmond,  with  her  sulphur  perianth  and  rich  primrose 
trumpet  should  be  mentioned,  to  which  I  would  add  Galatea  and  Lady 
Grosvenor. 
A  most  splendid  and  chaste  variety  is  Madame  De  Graaf,  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  white  trumpet  Daffodils.  It  is,  I  believe,  a  chance  seedling 
raised  by  Mynheer  De  Graaf  in  his  nursery  at  Leyden.  There  is  another 
very  fine  variety — not  yet  in  commerce — Ellen  Willmott,  and  this  also 
is  a  chance  seedling  of  the  Horsefieldi  type,  raised  by  Mr.  Engleheart  in 
Hampshire.  From  what  I  have  heard  about  it,  it  surpasses  in  form  and 
shape  the  gigantic  Weardalo  Perfection. 
I  believe,  after  all,  that  Dame  Nature  is  the  best  hybridist,  especially 
in  this  class  of  plants,  as  we  seem  to  get  better  things  from  her  than 
from  our  own  handiwork.  Whilst  I  am  speaking  of  chance  seedlings  I 
may  add  the  parentage  of  Weardale  Perfection  is  not  known.  It  was 
raised  by  Mr.  Backhouse  at  Weardale,  whence  it  takes  its  name. 
Passing  from  these  expensive  gems  I  will  proceed  with  my  selection 
of  general  varieties,  Mrs.  Vincent  is  of  rare  beauty,  and  well  deserving 
A  nook  in  the  most  unique  collections.  It  requires  plenty  of  sandy  soil. 
the  same  as  Mrs.  J.  B.  M.  Camm,  and  shelter  from  the  ease  winds. 
Then  we  have  that  little  sulphur  gem,  W.  P.  Milner,  named  after  Mr. 
W.  A.  Milner’s  late  father,  a  thorough  florist,  who  resided  at  Meersbrook 
Park.  Wm.  Goldring,  the  Swan’s  Neck  Daffodil,  with  snow  white 
perianth  and  primrose  trumpet.  Both  these  two  are  very  elegant 
varieties. 
Incomparabilis  and  other  Daffodils. 
1  have  now  finished  with  the  Ajax,  or  Trumpet  Daffodils,  and  will  go 
on  with  the  Incomparabilis  varieties,  those  with  the  cup  half  as  long  as 
the  divisions.  Autocrat,  large  yellow  perianth  and  cup,  widely  expanded. 
C.  J.  Backhouse,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  attractive  of  the  yellow 
sorts.  It  has  a  long  orange  scarlet  cup,  which  is  very  effective  when 
arranged  in  vases.  Gloria  Mundi  has  a  fine  bold  yellow  perianth,  with 
a  large  expanded  cup  heavily  tinted  orange  scarlet.  King  of  che 
Netherlands  is  similar  to  the  last  named.  Queen  Sophia,  George 
Nicholson,  and  Cynosure  are  all  beautiful  forms  with  orange  and  scarlet 
tinted  cups.  All  varieties  with  scarlet  or  orange  tinged  cups  should  be 
shaded  from  the  hot  sun  with  brown  holland  or  canvas,  made  so  that  it 
will  roll  up  and  down  on  wood  rafters. 
The  Barri  or  Star  Narcissi  now  claim  attention.  Barri  conspicuus 
is  a  most  magnificent  and  well-formed  sort.  In  large  plots  it  looks  very 
stately.  Golden  Gem  is  another  of  the  same  class.  Maurice  Vilmorin 
belongs  to  the  Albidus  group,  perianth  creamy  white,  cup  lemon  stained 
orange  scarlet.  Sensation,  another  good  one,  with  a  slightly  reflexed 
perianth,  very  effective  in  a  collection  ;  Dorothy  E.  Weymss,  a  later  sort 
with  white  perianth  and  yellow  cup,  goes  well  with  the  lovely  Bernard! 
variety  ;  H.  B,  Buxton,  a-free  bloomer  with  orange  scarlet  cup  and 
white  perianth. 
The  Leedsi  section  is  a  beautiful  one.  Duchess  of  Westminster,  like 
a  six-pointed  star,  white  perianth  and  canary  cup.  Katherine  Spurrell, 
broad  white  perianth  and  canary  cup,  is  quite  distinct  from  any  other. 
Hon,  Mrs.  Barton  and  Madame  Magdalena  de  Graaf  are  both  well  worth 
growing.  The  last  named  is  usually  twin-flowered.  The  next  group  is 
Backhouse!.  Of  these  there  are  only  four  of  five  catalogued  and  only 
two  that  I  consider  worth  growing — viz.,  H.  J.  Glinis  and  Backhouse!. 
I  will  mention  one  or  two  in  the  Nelson!  class.  Mrs.  C.  J.  Back¬ 
house,  Wm.  Backhouse,  Nelson!  major,  and  Aurantius  are  all  worth 
cultivating  and  can  be  purchased  for  a  few  pence.  I  must  not  forget 
the  Angels’  Tears  Narciss,  Triandrus  albus,  the  Cyclamen-flowered  form. 
It  has  been  used  with  success  as  a  pollen  parent  in  hybridising.  Nor 
the  little  Rush-leaved  variety.  Narcissus  juncifolius,  which  is  Quite  at 
home  in  a  nook  on  the  rockery.  It  is  the  smallest  variety  of  its  class. 
There  are  several  double  forms  worth  attention.  Incomparabilis  plenus 
and  Aurantius  plenus,  or  Butter  and  Eggs  as  it  is  often  called,  Albus 
plenus  Aurantius,  or  Eggs  and  Bacon,  or  Orange  Phoenix,  as  it  rejoices  in 
three  names,  Albus  sulphureus,  known  also  as  Codlins  and  Cream  and 
Sulphur  Pnoenix,  with  that  beautiful  Roae-like  Daffodil  OJorus  plenus, 
a  rich  full  yellow,  well  known  as  Queen  Anne’s  Jonquil. 
The  Burbidgei  varieties,  named  after  Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge  of  Trinity 
College  Gardens,  Dublin,  who  is  a  great  authority  on  the  popular  genus. 
The  cup  of  the  flower  is  a  little  longer  than  the  Poeticus  section, 
Beatrice  Heseltine,  Crown  Princess,  and  Burbidgei — an  early  variety  and 
valuable  for  cutting — Falstaff,  John  Bain,  Little  Dick,  Princess  Louise, 
and  St.  John’s  Beauty  are  all  neat  little  gems  and  very  cheap. 
The  last  section  to  mention  is  the  Poeticus  varieties,  and  1  think  they 
are  the  most  charming  and  sweet  examples  of  the  Daffodil.  They  can 
be  used  for  wreaths  and  crosses  and  are  most  valuable  as  cut  flowers, 
coming  so  early  in  the  year.  In  vases,  arranged  with  a  little  of  their 
own  foliage,  they  have  few  rivals.  Poeticus  ornatus,  very  early,  Poeticus 
poetarum,  very  distinct,  pure  white  perianth,  and  bright  orange  scarlet 
cup.  The  last  to  bloom  is  the  beautiful  Gardenia  variety,  Alba  plena 
odorata,  a  most  splendid  variety.  When  well  grown  it  is  equal  to  any 
Gardenia  flower.  It  requires  a  more  retentive  soil  and  deeper  planting 
than  most  of  its  companions,  say  about  6  inches  deep.  I  have  now 
completed  my  list  of  some  of  the  best  varieties  of  Narcissi  in  cultivation 
at  the  present  day. — {Read,  hy  Mr.  T.  W.  Birkenshaw,  Gardener  to 
W.  A.  Milner,  Esq.,  Totley  Hall,  Sheffield,  at  a  nieeting  of  the  Sheffield 
Chrysanthemum  S''ciety,  on  August  \2th,  1896.) 
(To  be  concluded.) 
A  RUN  INTO  WALES. 
Not  to  that  part  of  the  principality  in  which  the  rising  young 
gardener,  Mr.  C.  Poster,  grows  vegetables  so  well,  and  makes  his 
presence  felt  at  the  Cardiff  and  other  shows,  but  along  the  northern 
coast,  was  a  confiding  man  tempted  a  little  while  ago  by  a  shrewd  and 
sturdy  son  of  Wales  and  a  famous  British  gardener.  It  was  at  the 
Chester  show  that,  overcome  by  feelings  of  patriotism,  he  was  impelled 
to  steal  a  day  or  two  for  a  glance  at  the  ancient  mountains,  which  he 
felt  he  wonld  enjoy  the  more  with  an  appreciative  companion.  The 
appeal  to  “  Come  over  the  border  with  me ;  you  will  never  regret  it,” 
was  so  earnest  as  to  be  irresistible,  and  forthwith  we  started,  the  stranger 
following  in  faith  the  guidance  of  his  leader. 
Not  many  minutes  elapsed  after  the  express  sped  out  of  Chester 
before  the  tempter  was  within  the  charmed  zone  of  his  native  land,  and 
as  we  rushed  along,  with  the  mountains  on  the  left  and  the  sea  on  the 
right,  the  stolen  trip  became  qaite  exhilarating.  Flint  was  the  first 
“  stop,”  then  lively  looking  Rhyl,  and  thence  in  turn  old  Colwyn  and 
