364 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  4,  1839. 
FIELDS  OF  WAVING  GOLD. 
A  WEITER  in  the  “Daily  News'’  no  doubt  feels  fortunate  in  the 
discovery  that  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons’  nurseries  at  Long  Ditton  form  “  the 
yellowest  spot  on  earth,”  and  we  may,  therefore,  be  pardoned  for  choosing 
the  above  title  for  our  notes  of  the  Daffodils  there  flowering.  That  it 
will  to  some  persons  sound  overdrawn  we  do  not  doubt,  but  by  those  wbo 
have  paid  a  personal  visit,  tr  have  even  passed  in  the  train,  it  will  he 
accepted  as  perfectly  true.  Standing  at  either  of  the  several  entrances 
the  flelds  have  the  appearance  of  waves  of  brilliant  yellow  rippling  with 
the  gentlest  breath  of  wind.  It  is  a  spectacle  to  which  many  an  on-looker 
might  aptly  apply  the  historical  appellation  of  “  The  field  of  the  cloth  of 
gold,”  and  there  would  be  little  or  no  exaggeration.  No  one  can  faithfully 
picture  in  the  mind  the  esquisite  beauty  of  the  countless  thousands  of 
Tig.  82. 
NAECISSUS  IXTEBMEDIUS  SUXSET. 
flowers  rising  amidst  the  green  ribbon-like  leafage  ;  nor  could  anyone 
forget  the  scene  after  an  inspection  had  been  made,  no  matter  whether 
they  were  Daffodil  enthusiasts  or  not. 
As  the  years  roll  on  the  number  of  varieties — or  it  may  be  supposed 
some  persons  would  prefer  to- say  hybrids — becomes  greater,  and  only 
specialists  can  keep  pace  with  the  times.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  the 
trained  mind  alone  that  can  appreciate  the  difference  in  some  of  them. 
Ttere  are,  however,  enough  and  to  spare  of  varieties  at  prices  ranging 
from  a  penny  up  to  15  guineas  a  bulb  that  are  quite  d’s  inct,  ar.d  of  a 
beauty  that  appeals  forcibly  to  all  tastes.  With  a  scope  like  this,  it 
cannot  be  wondered  that  “Daffs”  are  seen  in  almost  every  garden  in  tow  n 
and  country.  We  might,  in  notes  of  this  nature,  confine  our  remarks 
to  the  newer  and  rarer  varieties  that  are  beyond  the  reach  of  all  but 
the  most  highly  favoured,  and  in  doing  so,  be  forced  to  omit  mention 
of  older,  commoner,  but  not  really  less  beautiful  soits.  Such  of  those 
we  shall  refer  to  may  not  have  the  noble  beauty  of  Monarch,  the 
stately  mien  of  Weardale  Perfection,  the  exquisite  delicacy  of  the 
shading  in  Apricot,  the  refined  softness  of  Lady  Helen  Vincent,  the 
boldness  ajf  Shakespeare,  the  chasteness  of  L’Inuocence,  or  the  purity 
of  Mrs.  jMorland  Crosfield  ;  but  they  have  other  merits  that  endear  them 
to  lovers  of  spring’s  golden  flower. 
We  shall  in  as  few  words  as  possible  advert  to  varieties  that  have 
some  striking  characteristic  which  alone  renders  them  worthy  of  culture, 
either  in  the  borders  of  the  small  town  gardens,  or  the  beds  and  borders 
of  the  (ountryhome.  That  they  flower  magnificently  in  small,  smoky 
London  gardens  we  have  had  many  proofs,  and  that  some  varieties  at 
any  rate  increase  and  multiply'  under  these  conditions  we  know  from 
personal  experience.  Then  there  are  in  many  gardens  grassy  dells  and 
broad  expanses  of  turf  in  which  Daffodils  can  be  planted,  indeed  under 
no  other  conditions  do  they  look  so  well.  To  all  whose  facilities  permit 
of  it,  we  say  plant  sound  bulbs  in  grass,  for  such  is  their  rightful  home. 
In  the  (arly  days  of  the  year  the  blades  of  the  leaves  will  cut  through  the 
turf,  and  as  spring  advances  so  does  the  bud,  un'il  the  stout  footstalk  is 
crowned  with  a  nodding  smiling  flow  er.  Too  many  cannot  be  utilised  for 
such  a  purpose,  as  no  one  could  tire  of  their  delicate  beauty.  True, 
care  has  to  he  taken  in  the  initial  selection,  as  oome  thrive  far  better  than 
others,  but  with  the  surmounting  of  this  difficulty  the  grower’s  troubles 
are  over,  and  he  has  only  to  wait  for  a  sure  reward. 
It  is  more  than  probable  that  these  of  our  readers  who  reside  in  or 
near  the  metropolis  would  visit  the  Drill  Hall  in  James’s  Street,  West¬ 
minster,  on  April  18th,  when  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society  held  one  of 
its  popular  meetings,  and  those  who  did  so  might  have  then  noticed 
N.  intermedins  Sunset,  which  is  representel  in  fig.  82.  It  is  not  new, 
but  sufficiently  bsautilul  to  receive  an  award  of  merit  from  the  Narcissus 
Committee.  As  may  be  seen  it  is  of  the  small  tazetta  type,  the  colour 
being  canary  yellow  in  the  perianth  and  rich  orange  in  the  cup.  It  has 
the  additional  recommendation  of  being  delightfully  fragrant,  resembling 
the  Jonquils  in  this  respecC  Of  those  latter  we  need  say  nothing,  for 
they  have  been  popular  favourites  for  more  years  than  one  cares  to 
remember.  I’ossessed  of  the  same  desirable  attribute — perfume — is  the 
chaste  juncifolius,  or  Rush-leaved  Daffodil,  with  whose  chaste  beauty 
everyone  is  familiar.  Look,  too,  at  cyclamineus,  triandrus,  corbularia, 
Backhousei,  Macleai,  and  Nelsoni  in  variety,  and  think  of  the  diversified 
beauty  that  can  be  found  in  these  half  dozen  types  !  Not  cne  variety  of 
the  whole  can  reasonably  be  omitted  from  a  collection  that  has  any 
pretensions  towards  completeness.  There  is  a  tender  charm  about  them 
all,  but  in  none  more  than  the  prettily  named  “Angel’s  Tears.” 
Let  us,  however,  turn  now  to  a  section  that  is  probably  as  large  as  the 
above  six  combined — namely,  that  which  is  distinguished  by  the  appellation 
Leedsi.  Of  this  type  we  have  chosen  a  group  of  four  lor  reproduction 
(fig.  83),  to  which  we  have  added  a  variety  of  incomparabilis,  known  as 
Stella  superba.  The  latter  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  specimens  in 
the  Barr  museum,  ar.d  has  a  habit  of  looking  one  straight  in  the  face. 
It  is  an  enlarged  and  improved  Stella,  which  is  an  ample  description  foi 
anyone.  Reverting  to  the  Leedsis  there  represented, we  see  at  the  top 
on  the  left  ^I.  Magdabne  de  Graaff  with  us  broad  white  perianth  and 
rich,  deep  yellow  cup;  in  the  centra  Princess  of  Wales,  which  has  a 
white  divided  perianth,  and  a  fimbriated  cream  cup  ;  and  on  the  right  is 
Gem,  an  established  favourite,  and  one  of  the  best  of  the  section  ;  with, 
at  the  bottom  on  the  left.  Duchess  of  Westminster,  which  is  white,  wiih 
a  long  delicate  cream  crown  ;  Stella  superba  occupying  the  lower  right 
hand  corner.  There  arc  other  Leedsis  besides  these,  but  they  will  suffice 
as  examples  of  a  charming  type  of  the  Daffodil  lamily  that  produces 
flowers  in  abundance  of  tho  greatest  value  for  cutting. 
Turning  to  those  that  arc  distinguished  as  Barri,  after  the  renowned 
firm  whose  flowers  we  are  reviewing,  we  are  constrained  to  commence 
with  conspicuus,  than  which  no  Daffodil  of  any  section  is  more  beautiful 
or  more  generally  admired.  A  score  of  thousand  bulbs  produced  such 
an  effect  as  to  impress  everyone  and  to  send  the  enthusiast  into  ecstacies 
of  rapture.  One  of  those  in  the  party  when  these  notes  were  made 
went  down  on  his  knees,  the  better  to  appreciate  the  g'ow  of  crimson  on 
the  carpet  of  gold.  And  they  were  worth  it.  Flora  Wilson,  with  it» 
white  perianth,  is  very  showy,  as  is  Sensation,  of  which  the  soft  yellow 
crown  is  margined  with  red.  Smaller  than  either  the  Leedsi  or  the 
Barri  sections  are  the  varieties  of  Burbidgei,  which  come  with  poetiens 
and  a  few  others  in  the  category  of  “true”  Narcissi.  Of  these  we 
were  particularly  attracted  to  John  Bain,  Agnes  Barr,  Falstaff,  and 
Mercy  Foster,  though  the  others  would  be  considered  by  many  as  of  equal 
beauty'.  There  can  be  no  necessity  to  dilate  upon  the  beauty  and  value 
of  tho  poeticus  section,  so  well  is  it  known,  but  it  may  be  said  in 
passing  that  the  merits  of  poeticus  praecox  grandiflorus  for  early  fiowers 
entitle  it  to  more  recognition,  as  it  is  several  days  ahead  of  orr.atus. 
From  the  very  small  we  will  transfer  our  attention  to  tho  very  large, 
to  the  section  that  claims  ISIonarch,  Weardale  Perfection,  Apricot,  and 
Mrs.  JMorland  Crosfield  as  its  own.  Hero  we  have  boldness  in  the  flower, 
richness  and  diversity  of  colouration,  wi.h  strength  of  constitution— merits 
that  place  the  Magni  coronati  group  at  the  top  of  the  tr  e.  Leaving  the 
very  expensive,  where,  may  we  ask,  will  a  better  Daffodil  be  found  than 
Emperor  ?  We  will  answer  ourselves  in  one  word,  and  that  is.  Nowhere. 
It  is  simply  superb.  Equalling  it  in  beauty,  if  not  in  size,  is  P,  R.  Barr, 
which  is  rather  more  refined.  But  wuat  of  Golden  Spur,  Ard  Righ, 
Henry  Irving,  maximus,  and  M.  J,  Berkel  y  ?  Nothing  ;  their  names  are 
quite  sufficient.  There  must  be  included  some  bicolors  with  their  white 
perianth  and  yellow  cup  ;  they  nre  too  beautiful  to  be  omitted.  We 
should  choose  Empress,  Ilorsefieldi,  Madame  Plemp  (if  not  too  high  in 
price),  "Victoria,  Mrs.  Walter  Ware,  ar.d  grandis,  the  latter  particularly 
for  late  flowering.  Each  of  these  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  garden. 
Then,  too,  we  have  the  sulphur  coloured  varieties,  which  appeal  strongly 
to  most  growers.  These  are  numerous,  and  the  shades  of  colour  in  both 
perianth  and  trumpet  are  so  delicate  that  personal  selection  is  almost 
absolutely  essential. 
It  wriuld  be  an  unjustifiable  action  for  any  w  riter  treating  of  Daffodils 
to  omit  reference  to  the  incomparabilis  section,  Stella  superba  being  so 
far  the  only  one  to  which  reference  has  been  made.  Who  does  not  grow 
the  splendid  Sir  Watkin  1  It  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  most  popular  varieties 
in  cultivation,  and  rightly  so.  If  it  were  more  abundant,  what  a  favourite 
Gloria  Mundi  would  be  ?  Unfortunately  tbe  price  of  25s.  per  bulb  is 
