THE GARDEN

Southland Times, Issue 24861, 29 September 1942, Page 6

THE GARDEN

DAFFODILS FOR THE SHOW BENCH By RIWHI t On Friday of this week Southland’s premier daffodil show will be held in Invercargill. The recent storms have played havoc with the earlier varieties especially on exposed sites; nevertheless the show will catch the spring tide of bloom and so with reasonable weather for the next few days many excellent blooms should be available for exhibition. In and around Invercargill there, are many enthusiasts who do not exhibit at the local show. Whatever the cause of their diffidence it would be a great help to the Horticultural Society if they would lay it aside and join the ranks of those who support the daffodil show. A really impressive display is obtained only when all join in to make it successful. One can almost feel the grudging spirit in the show atmosphere when exhibits are left only to the one or two who are most likely to win awards. For display on the show bench stems should be strong, blooms held well up and of a size and form typical of the variety. Perianth segments should be firm, flat and of waxy texture, while the trumpet or cup should be well developed but in proportion to the size of the perianth. Never show a bloom that has any defect, or one that is past its best and is fading. All exhibits should be carefully set out in accordance with the show schedule and wherever possible each variety should be named. Correct naming is important, but mistakes here are not seriously considered by the judges; mistakes in the classification of exhibits, however, may well disqualify the exhibit so that the greatest of care must be exercised in this respect. DAFFODILS FOR GARDEN DISPLAY These should never be grown in rows in open beds or in narrow borders. For garden display plant daffodils in clumps in the mixed border or the shrubbery. Each clump should consist of one variety and of course only proved and cheaper varieties should be used. The exhibitor will often find that the natural increase of certain better varieties soon enables him to use them in this way. Where such an endless selection is possible it is difficult to list varieties for this purpose, but the following will be found useful. Among the trumpets:

Dawson City, Hallmark, Loyalist, Kantara, White Emperor, Honour. Among shorter cup varieties: Carlton, Festive, Kennack, Nissa, Mrs Barclay, Red Sea, Honesty, Suda and Orange Glory. Among the jonquils: Buttercup and Gertrude Nethercote. From the Tazettas and doubles: Glorious, Scarlet Gem, Holland’s Glory, Inglescombe Phoenix. These are only a few of the many varieties that could be listed. All of them multiply freely and are of vigorous constitutions. For use in the rockery there are natural species, including such as Narcissus minimus. Many of these brought in from the hills around the Mediterranean or the mountain sides of China are the parents of the most showy modern hybrids.