DAFODIL CULTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 8

DAFODIL CULTURE.

A special meeting of 'the members of the Dunedin Horticultural Society and others interested in daffodils^was held at the Board Room of the Agricultural Hall on the 25th for the purpose of obtaining information on the culture of daffodils from Mr Peter Barr, of the firm of Barr and Sons, Covent Garden, London. Mr J. White, president of the society, occupied the chair","" and there were about 30 persons present, including the- following growers of narcissi: — Messrs H. Hart (Lawrence), J. ©lair, A. Millar, E. L. Peterson, A. Hamel, H. Clarke, W. M'Laren, and J. Robertson. *

Mr Barr, who has almost a world-wide reputation . as a' collector , and cultivator of daffodils, gave a brief address, and then re- ' plied to a number of questions with regard to the culture of his favourite flowers. The narcissus, Mr Barr said, had been known for at least -300 years. From time to time it had come ink prominence, had then disappeared, but now he thought it had come to. stay. He believed New " Zealand was the only other country in the world j where they had taken up the daffodil . generally as. they had done at Home. Daffodils .throve better hSre" than^they did in the j old country ; and he should say, from what j he had heard, 'that the flowers were larger j here. In referring to the matter of hybridisaj tion, Mr Barr said this should .be all done under cover, as the best results were so obj famed. As regards planting, he recommended' thal.^the bulbs should be planted just three times their own, depth., -A great deal, of other information of interest to growers -of narcissi was also given by Air Barr, who was subsequently accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his kindness. ' v' It auiy be mentioned ih&t the iQcietjf; lig£

applied for the daffodil silver cup which is offered by Messrs Barr and Sons to horticultural societies for competition, and that the cup will probably be obtained in time to be competed for' al the next spring show.