DAFFODIL LAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 November 1928, Page 6

DAFFODIL LAND.

AN OTAGO T3XPEEIMENT.

SALE FOB CHABITY,

Some miles from Dunedin there is a liillside, 12 aica'es in extent, on Weathcrstomes, the property of a well-known resident, which is In! the season a mass of daffodils. The “Otago Daily Times” tells .the stony of its formation. In 1903 Mr Holrt, at that time one of the leading daffodil growers in the. Dominion, having on hand a large surplus of daffodil bulbs, was struck with the idea of naturalising them in gras's on his property (ait We at hers ton es. The first planting proved entirely satisfactory ,amd a yearly .addition was made, until the result to-day, after 25 years’ of .patient planting, is 12 acres of what wais once unsightly hillside, closely studded with bulbs numbering approximately 1,000,000. The collection comprises most of the varieties known to horticulturists, from the massive trumpet nearly five inches in diameter, to the miniature eyclaiminius barely a quarter of an inch across, and in adidi- . tion a plot of a quarter of acre contains some, wonderful results .of Messrs JEEart Brothers’ experiments in the crossing of daffodils. Of late years the trip to Wether- ' stones' in the springtime has become in- j circasingly popular with flower-lovers; j many of whom make an, annual pilgrim- 1 age to the daffodil fields to. feast their eyes on the beautiful sight of a hillside thickly (carpeted with gorgeous blooms. The flowers are picked, colleieted and sold in the streets of Dunedin for charitable purposes, and a large sum is collected thereby to help various organisations.