Narcissus or Daffodils.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 15, 11 April 1908, Page 36

Narcissus or Daffodils.

Note.— In describing Narcissus we have referred to the “perianth” and “trumpet.” The latter is the long centre, funnel-1 ike tube, and the “perianth” is the surrounding row of petals or wings. When writing on this flower in the “Graphic” of September 14th, 1907, we promised to give cultural directions for growing at the proper season, and, in fulfilment of that promise, we shall do so in this issue. It is a well known fact that when the cultivation of any particular flower takes hold of an individual he never seems to tire of Bilking about his hobby, and it is a delight to him to meet with one who has a similar fancy. Then he can talk, because his discourse is appreciated. 'Chose who merely grow’ a tew flowers are out of it and can only ft and aside and wonder how two such men can spend so much time over a mere flower! But the pleasure is real. These enthusiasts may, by their exertions, be enabled to add to the beauty of existence, a new or improved flower which will l>e a soiirei* of happiness, and pleasure, not only to the raiser, but to flower lovers the wide world over. Admirers of the daffodil an* numerous, but. enthusiastic growers ami hybridizers, so far as the Dominion is concerned, are few. It is a satisfaction to remember that in the Auckland district we have in Professor Thomas a hybridizer who is doing splendid work on the daffodil, and from whose

labours we anticipate good results. Home of our readers may recall the fine group of seedlings exhibited by Professor Thoma ; at the last Dafl’odil Show held in Auckl nd, an exhibit of which anyone might be proud, and which represented many years of patient waiting and watching. Dafl'odil hybridising is very -low work, and one could wish Methuse-

1 ?.h’s days were one’s own —our three score and ten slip past, and we with them, before we really seem to have done much. It is our sad duty to record the death of the Rev. S. E. Bourne, of Duntan \ icarage. Lincoln. Mr. Bourne was an authority on Daffodils, and the author of a standard work on the subject. He was one of the best judges and occupied a unique position amongst daffodil ex perts. The past season has brought prominently forward several very good new seedlings. notably, Frostbound; a large white trumpet, which gained first prize at the Midland Show; also Majestic, an exquisite white trumpet, raised by Mr. ( rosfiehl: Miss Clinch, smaller type, a beautiful. white truinpat, raised by Mr. C rtw right. The Rev. G. 11. Engleheart received a gold medal for a charming collection of seedlings, not yet on the market, but which we, no doubt, will hear more about when suflicient stock has been worked up. Corallina. an Incom parahilis, pale sulphur peri nth, very pale orange cup. shading to coral, a novel colour, was rai ed by Peter Barr and Sons. The new Poetaz hybrids are attracting attention in America, but we are rather doubtful if they will be popular here. Fhese Poetaz hybrids have been obtained by crossing Poetieus Ornatus with Polyanthus Narcissus, Poetieus being the seed parent. They are bunch flowered. Individu 1 flowers have all more or le s the Poetieus shape and size, and they have not inherited that strong and to some disagreeable odour of the Polyanthus Narcissus. There are about 10 distinct varieties in this section. PLANTING DAFFODILS. The drier the ground when bulbs lire planted the better. They should be in

A flower of remarkable beauty. and. I’ke Salmonetta, quite a new break in colour; perianth pure white and slightly shouldered, crown long and straight, prettify fluted, and of a lovely apricot orange.

their place before the first soaking rain of autumn comes; a wet bed is very bad for them before they begin to grow. Those who are obliged to plant them when the soil is wet had better use a barrowful of dry soil and surround the bulbs with it. Anything is better than laving bulbs in mud. Daffodils should be ready to grow when the soil becomes wet, and while it is still warm. They require to make good long roots.

Few people will take the trouble to make any special difference in the soil where they are planting them, and it is hardly worth while to do so. Daffodils are said to like loam, and so they do. Soil which contains a large proportion of clay, but readily breaks up small when dug. is better for them than peat, or that which contains much vegetable mould; but it is less troublesome and as likely to lead to success to trust

to the goodness of the ordinary soil of the garden. Narcissus poetic us ami its hybrids like a stronger soil than the Trumpet Daffodils, and of these the white-flowered Trumpets are more impatient of stagnant wet than the others; but it is a mistake to think that the tribe do best in very rich soil, and to plant them in manured soil often causes them to die out in two or three years. What we say about soil does not refer to bulbs grown in pots which are for one season’s flowering. For them it cannot well be too rich. If the soil of the border in which the bulbs are planted is very fertile, the flowers will generally be tine for the first season; but after that there is a tendency to multiph too rapidly; the main bulb breaks up into slender divisions which crowd one another too much for healthy develop ment; often many bulbils in addition are formed round the base of the oh I bulb, and the whole mass soon dies. In other cases, especially where the soil holds wet, the foundations are laid of a very destructive disease, called basalrot. in which the bulb, after lingering for one or two seasons, gradually dies. Where a tendency to rapid multiplication prevails, try deep planting say 6 inches instead of the regulation 4 inches- but those who wish to obtain a large stock of any choice kind, and prefer shallow planting, should jlig up tin* bulbs each in every summer, ami after allowing

(frown in small cream jars without drain, ge. them to dry thoroughly, separate and replant them, giving growing room to each. Those who have a large mixed garden cannot replant their whole stock of Daffodils every season, but for deli cate and choice kinds this treatment will be found successful. We do not believe that any soil which is naturally good for Daffodils ever becomes bulb -i(k that is to sav. conducive to disease or decay from being long under the same crop. We find that these plants grow thicklv and Ho ver luxuriantly for

many years together in the same spot in orchards and meadows, and we have often seen flourishing clumps in flower borders which have grown there beyond the recollection of the owner. In these cases their increase is slow. Where they multiply fast, the effects of neglect or of a wet and cold summer will often last for two or three seasons, in spite of transplanting, and when replanted bulbs continue to look unhealthy, the soil is often blamed without cause. When a spot is dug for planting Daffodils, the soil beneath them should not be left too loose, but pressed together, so as to be moderately firm, otherwise the roots cannot get a steady hold, and ■the flowering is less strong. The soil may be filled in above lightly, but should never be allowed .to become caked. A few points to be remembered by intending planters of Narcissus are: — Soil.— Any ordinary garden soil, loam for preference; dig deeply, giving a sprinkling of lime. Never use fresh manure as the ammoniacal properties are injurious. Allow newly-dug soil to stand vacant for a fortnight or more before planting. Mananre — Basic slag may be used at time of planting; 5 to 6 ounces per square yard. Planting— Four inches deep is the general rule, smaller bulbs 2 to 3 inches; very large bulbs G inches. After working keep the surface soil well broken up with a hoe as soon as the Daffodils show above ground.

Pot Culture— Narcissus can be grown successfully in moss fibre without drainage, giving similar treatment to that recommended for Hyacinths. They are also suitable for potting, using fibrous l’oam, decaying leaf mould with some sharp silver sand added, and also 4oz. bone meal to about lOlbs. potting soil. Always pot bulbs when the soil is dry. After potting stand the pots outside on a bed of ashes or scoria. Leaf mould or fine scoria should then be placed over the pots till the bulbs are covered about 4 inches deep. Eight to ten weeks will elapse before they are sufficiently rooted for removal to the sitting-room or a cool greenhouse. Narcissus for Naturalising in Grass, eta.— Many sorts of Daffodils succeed admirably when naturalised in woodlands, meadows, orchards, shrubberies, grassy slopes, etc. Nothing will so well repay the small cost of planting these in such places. They require no after attention, and can be dibbled in without much labour. Some kinds very suitable for this purpose are Emperor, P. R. Barr, Sir Watkin, Minnie Hume, Barri C'onspicuus, Poeticus; John Bain, Double White, Pheasants’ Eye, etc. NOTES ON A FEW NEW VARIETIES. Narcissus Poeticus (King Edward VII.) —Important improvements have been effected amongst the Poet’s Narcissus For some years past wa have had early, mid-season, and late varieties. At present improvements are being effected in the size of the flowers and the size or intensity of colour in the cup or crown. The flowers of King Edward VII. are characterised by great size and good substance, with pure white and broad, overlapping segments. The cup in the centre has a very broad margin of a brilliant or bright red—some ■Would call it scarlet—with, of course, a zone of yellow at the base. Usually new Daffodils take a number of years to spread into gardens owing to their expensive character. It is owing to the slow rate of increase, as new plants can only be obtained as offsets from the original bulb. King Edward VII. has been cultivated for some time, however, and bulbs are getting plentiful. They are also reasonably cheap, considering the size and quality of the blooms and the hovel ty of the variety.

Narcissus Lowdham Beauty, depicted in the illustration, is a giant Leedsi Daffodil raised by Mr. J. D. Pearson. This flower was exhibited at the Drill, Hall, London, in April, 1004, and every member of the Narcissus Committee who saw it pronounced it the finest Leedsi form that they had as yet seen. It is one of a number of seedlings raised from a cross between Minnie Hume and Mme. De Graff, nearly all of which were high-class flowers of great beauty. Till this flower appeared, White Queen was the finest of the giant Leedsi Daffodils, but on comparison with Lowdham Beauty it is quite surpassed. The plant stands a trifle higher than White Queen, with strong, deep green, ample leaves. The flower is 4 inches across the mouth of the crown, which is very slightly crinkled and daintily frilled. The whole flower is of a glistening ivory white, and the broad segments firm and perfect in texture.

White Trumpet Daffodil (Mme. de Graaf). —Five guineas a few years ago used to be asked for a bulb of Mme. De Graaff, which was by far the best and largest white Trumpet Daffodil. Since then, however, the original bulb has so multiplied by offsets that anyone with a real desire to possess this grand variety many now procure it at a reasonable price. The bulbs of Mme. de Graaff’ are now fairly numerous, and are being increased year by year by everyone connected with bulb-growing. This particular Daffodil originated from Narcissus Moschatus, because at that time it was the only one which possessed white colour in both segments and trumpet. We do not mean that it originated directly from the old wild type, but from some of the larger varieties whicn then existed under such names as N. cernuus and N. cernuus pulcher, though we note that some authorities now consider cernuns a distinct species from N. moschatus. VERONICA. MR. POPE ON THE LARGE DAFFODIL. Mr. John Pope, the famous grower, in the course of a recent lecture, said the first suggestion he had on the matter was after hearing so much against the big Dutch, coarse Daffodil, and, while agreeing that much could be said in favour of smaller flowers and more refinement, yet he was of opinion that much could be said in favour of the big daffodil with its long stalks and sturdy flowers. .Much could be said on both sides, for everything depended on the way one looked at it and the standard one set up. First of all there was the old florist who set up- his ideal of what was or what should be a perfect daffodil, as

illustrated by Glenny with his properties of flowers. Secondly, there was the

amateur who grew flowers to brighten his -house and gardens, and who said, “I don’t care for your rareand expensive sorts; something that looks pretty, and makes the place gay I prefer.” Then there was the market grower, whose business it was to find out the public wants and then supply it. At the same time he had to consider his own wants and which would best repay his labours. Ho was sure they would all agree with him and acknowledge the bounty of the Almighty in providing for all tastes. One had only to look and work, the rest was amply provided. By “the old florist” he meant the man who grew his flowers for the love of them, and who set up his standard of beauty in the daffodil, the perfectly formed perianth segments and tha complete flat and round perianth.

the perfectly balanced flower between the trumpet and the perianth, and the hoped-for red trumpet. But, as yet, he had not heard of a Glenny who had set up the standard to be aimed at in the various forms, and they awaited the standard. It was not so in many other of the florists’ flowers —-Carnations, Auriculas, Pinks, Polyanthus, etc.; they were all supplied, and they knew what to aim at. It was to him a remarkable thing that the keenest judges and best growers of those old florist flowers were to be found in the Black Country and the North of England. And now, as in the past, many of the best or most of the best Auriculas. Polyanthus, Carnations, Ranunculi, etc., had been raised by them. The periodicals of forty to one hundred years ago would fully bear out those remarks as to the growers and raisers. The old florists seemed to have been the pioneers in the love for flowers, and. what was remarkable, the genus florist did not seem to exist or flourish in any other country than Britain. It must he understood that the men he referred to were the old florists who grew for love and not for gain.

Now came the amateur. He was not particular as to the perianth. The segments might be twisted, he had no standard of merit, no "properties” to trouble about. The principal thing to him was to find a cheap and effective supply of flowers that made the garden gay, and found his flowers sufficient to satisfy the wishes of his wife and improve the cheerfulness of the home. Then there was the market grower and nurseryman, and he proposed to say a word or two on the growth of the market trade, its increase and some of its aids. He selected Birmingham for obvious reasons. Forty-five years ago the flower trade of Birmingham was of very small dimensions, and up to that time the florists attended three days a week. Just after the market was regularly attended, and he might say that what trade was done was generally handed over to the housewife or daughters. The nurseryman felt it was beneath him to arrange or cut flowers. He would cut a bloom to give a likely customer, but to cut and sell he drew the line at. About that period Camellias commenced to be the favourite for ladies’ hair, and the custom of wiring camellias and adding foreign foliage returned to the market. A bouquet, or sometimes two. and a halfdozen button-holes were the usual supply, and that by one firm and sometimes two. The flowers were all cut with short stems and wired and the bouquets had paper round them. They generally stopped day by day until sold; no fresh ones being brought until the old ones were gone. And now he proposed to jump over seven years and make a comparison, and even at that

period Birmingham had not moved much. People began to ask at Festival time for flowers with stalks, and baskets were sold at such times from 5/ to 10/ each—not arranged. But business was so small that flowers were not grown specially for this. A nurseryman and florist’s trade was still selling plants. Carnations, Pinks, Polyanthus, Auriculas, Tulips, etc. About that time Violets were grown at Cheltenham, in Somersetshire, etc., and were sent to Birmingham on commission. One nurseryman refused to have anything to do with them, but gave over the business to an assistant, who soon made for him a good business, and then a woman commenced to buy and hawk them in the street. This one was soon joined by her sister, and they were the first two to hawk them in Birmingham, and violets were the things they had to hawk. Now of hawkers and dealers there were hundreds. At that time—thirty-eight years ago—Brussels had a market to itself, and in it could have been seen heaps of roses, white, red. pink, etc., 4ft. high; while in Birmingham not as many were sold in the year. That seemed a lamentable thing, but now, perhaps, the Birmingham market sold, wholesale and retail, very much more than Brussels—(Hear, hear). What had brought about

that great change? The “rumble’’ of the coining demand for flowers with stalks at first, and, later on, the demand for flowers with long stalks. Perhaps they owed a great deal to their friends the Dutchmen and the Frenchmen. The Dutch were the first to send them boxes of hyacinths, tulips, narcissi, lilies, etc. Those were consigned to dealers, and frequently many of the consignments would only make the cost of carriage and packing, and sometimes, in bad weather, would hardly make the carriage. Those auctions were well attended by fruiterers and small florists and hawkeri,

and by the latter distributed in the pub lie-house and lower |>arts of the town, where they created a love for flowers, and hence a demand —and he thought they had to give the Duteh people their best thanks for supplying at such a very small cost flowers which previously had not been supplied by them (the English growers) at all. ‘ Afterwards came the flowers from the South of France. First was the Narcissus, Totus Albus about the first week in December, followed by Roman Hyacinths, Violets, Acaeias, etc., which also were of great value to the florist, and for which, he thought, they had the French people to thank. He was quite certain that if a census was taken of all dealers in flowers, and even growers, there would be a large majority who would thank the Dutch and the French for sending those flowers. And now, coming to the present time, when the demand was enormous and where everything must have long stalks and be suitable for house decoration. There it was that the big Daffodil came in. The longer the stalk and the larger the flower, the more suitable it was, not only for the house but for the hall and the church. The Carnation must be big and have a long stalk. Look at the popularity of the Malmaison Carnation. Yet. from the florist’s point of view it had not a single property. Then again there was the rage of flowers from America—the long stalk Carnation. They were very lovely and people would have them. Yet their laciniated edges and twisted segments would be condemned by any florist. And, lastly, the most popular Rose, perhaps, was Madame Abele Chatenay. Why? Because of its long stalk and suitability for decoration. He hoped ho had been able to show that there were flowers to suit every taste, both huge and small, including the French with thei r love of colour and a total disregard for shape or form.

THE CULT OF THE DAFFODIL.

The Rev. G. 11. Engleh eart delivered an interesting lecture on the cult of the daffodil at the annual dinner of the Midland show. He saijl that in talking about the Daffodil Society he thought they should look a little far back and consider their ancestry. They prided themselves on what they were doing now, but they had amongst them that evening one or two representatives of a past generation who provided them with material on which they had built up their products. He referred to Mr. Backhouse. If it had not been for Baek house and Dean Herbert and Leeds he did not know where they would have been. Those three names were linked to gether in a remarkable way. Dean Her bert, he reminded them, was the discoverer that there were hybrid Daffodils at all. People in those days thought that every particular species had been originated by the Almighty, and that it was to be the all and end of everything. But Dean Herbert proved to them that it was not so, that it was possible to hybridise artificially, and they had in the Library of the Royal Horticultural Society the original drawings of his plants which proved that. Some people had the knack of turning out their flowers wonderfully well, and there was a great deal in the way in which they were handled. He had heard it said, “Engleheart shows some very nice flowers but they are not the same thing at all when other people obtain and grow them. He ‘fakes’ and prepares his flowers; he does all sorts of things with them.” He did not think it possible for anyone by any artificial device to make a Daffodil better than it would come grown in the open ground under the best possible conditions. If it had an equable climate and a Spring that came on steadily with a tepid atmosphere and plenty of moisture, it had absolutely ideal conditions in the open air, and the Daffodil would come as good then as if coddled artificially. At

fair to attempt to reproduce those ideal conditions artificially. Speaking of those critics who said they did not expect over to see their flowers from his bulbs as good as they saw on his stand. ■Mr. F.nglehenrt observed that all lie would say was that the flowers he had brought with him were all cut the day before ho came up and were simply stored indoors on a water-sprinkled floor. In very cold weather, however, ho thought flowers required a little more than that. No doubt they had noticed the curious phenomena of flowers “catch*

ing cold”; they drooped and the perianths never got up again. if they had a house with a temperature of 50 to 55 degrees, and put the lloweifi there for a few hours and gently spray them they would go on swelling and keep their quality. That was only imitating what their best natural conditions would be outside. His point w->s this—that it was quite legitimate to imitate the best out-door, natural conditions they could have. There was another little trick, which, however, was not a trick at all, but a simple inference from the best natural conditions. He dared say they had noticed that a Daffodil never looked so well as when growing on banks a little above the eye. Of course, the inference from that was that the higher—in moderation—they put their flowers above the eye on the stand, the better they looked. Again, it was another important point in bunching their flowers to see they were neither too close together nor too thinly bunched. Flowers were appreciated in their respective characters by the public much better when they could see the flower repeated several times in a bunch properly spaced. And this was especially the case with flowers which had not any great individual, size or excellence of form, but only intensity or novelty of colour. Small flowers of remarkable colour, he had often noticed, entirely lost their point of excellence by a widely scattered arrangement. Touching upon what the criterion of a Daffodil should be, Mr. Engleheart said the Daffodil had progressed so much; in recent years that it had become a very high-class florist’s flower. There were tlie considerations of stout, waxy substance, of adequate size, of a proper balance between the perianth and the trumpet, of fine colour: and fine finish. There was a tendency to aim too exclusively at a round “imbricated” flower. For instance, he was very fond of the Poeticus class and he had come lately to think decidedly that a Poeticus like “Vdrgii” was very much more, beautiful than other round types which were more “blocky” and “cartwhneby” in the perianth. It should be remembered that the taste of the moment was not always the absolutely best taste for evfcr. Mr. Engleheart quite endorsed the opinion that the present show was far. and rfway the best they had ever had.* ?,They seemed year by year to double their advance, and he had not the slightest notion where they would get to. r . ■