The Advance of the Daffodil.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 9, 1 September 1909, Page 42

The Advance of the Daffodil.

SOME OF THE GROWERS WHO HAVE DONE PATIENT AND SUCCESSFUL WORK.

(By

“DAFF.”)

This now popular flower is an old friend—how old we do not know, but we believe Parkinson wrote about it as far ‘back as 1029. Not only did he write, but he grew from the seed and flowered a seedling in 1018. We do not suppose he understood the revelation we now understand, in relation to cross fertilisation, but he appears, so far as we can learn, to have been the pioneer in such work. We wonder if he could revisit England and view the infinite variety of narcissus now in commerce, would he be pleased? Well, yes. we think he would, because a true plant-

lover revels in advancement, and certainly we have advanced; but we must not indulge in speculation. Next in order after Parkinson comes Miller, who wrote in 1724 on the management of seedlings in “The Gardener’s Dictionary.” Miller gives fuil and very clear directions for raising seedlings, but makes no mention of hybrids, and we may reasonably assume that this mode of working was unknown in his day. In 1843 the late Dean Herbert, of Manchester, is reported to have flowered six hybrids, and so far as we can discover, to this scholarly clergyman the credit must be given for discovering the secret of cross fertilisation. It is possible Dean Herbert may not have been the first to learn this art, but we think there can be little doubt he was the first to give it intelligent expression, and to his careful and patient investigations the hybridist of to-day owes lasting gratitude. Some

years later we find that Mr. Edward Leeds, of Manchester, had bjen a successful worker. It would appear probable that Mr. Leeds had the benefit of Dean Herbert’s experience. At all events he was a most successful hybridist. Narcissus were not then valued .so highly as nowadays, for Mr. Leeds, when his health began to fail, offered his collection for sale, and had some difficulty in securing £ 100 for it, Mr. Peter Barr buying half and several gentlemen the other. Frank Miles, Grandee, Katherine Spurrell, John Nelson, Nelsoni Major, etc., were some of the varieties. John Horsfield, a working man, was the raiser of Horsfieldii about the year 1845. His stock was disposed of for something like 1/6 a bulb—a very insignificant price for a novelty when we read of the prices demanded to-day for anything new. The most successful grower in his day, if not, indeed, down to the present, was Mr. Backhouse, of Durham. When a hybridist can show a record like his, and can claim to be the raiser

of such grand varieties as Emperor, Empress, Weardale Perfection, Glori* Mundi, Barri Conspicuus, C. J. Backhouse, John Bain, Ellen Barr, and * host of others, we can say “Surely the lines have fallen to him in pleasant places, and he has left a goodly heritage!” It is worthy of notice that the advance of the daffodil in popular favour is largely owing to the efforts of clergymen. We have already mentioned Dean Herbert’s work. The late Rev. 8. E. Bourne, author of “The Bonk of the Daffodil,” was considered one of the best judges of the flower in England. The Rev. John Nelson, Rev. W. Wilkes, Rev. C. Wooley Dodd, and the Rev. W. Kendal are a few of the clergy who have contributed in no small degree to the advancement of the flower; and there can be no doubt that growers of to-day are very largely indebted to another clergyman, who still carries forward this work with unabated enthusiasm. For more than 30 years the Rev. G. H. Engleheart has patiently laboured at the improvement of this flower; and. great as has been the success he has already achieved, we are still, Oliver like, asking for, more, and there can be little doubt that, with the stock now available and the ripe experience he can bring to the task, we shall not be disappointed. Mr. Engleheart is, we understand, looked upon as the greatest authority on the subject of daffodil-raising at the present time. He has not confined his attention to any one section, and there is a section which bears his name. Mr. Sydenham, in referring to Mr. Engleheart’s exhibits, says: “His latest novelties, as exhibited at Birmingham and the Royal Horticultural Society’s spring meetings, deservedly attract universal attention and gain admiration from all present. I shall never forget the thrill of enthusiastic pleasure and excitement that passed through me as I looked upon the collection from this gentleman at a Drill Hall meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society—a feeling no doubt well understood by all true lovers of flowers. It made me say to myself and others near me, ‘ It is worth living a life to be able to produce such lovely and exquisite! flowers.’ ” Mr. Sydenham gives a description of a visit he paid to Mr. Engleheart’s garden as follows:— "I had the pleasure of spending a day with this gentleman at his home, situated in the quiet rural village of Appleshaw, about six miles from Andover Junction station; I there thoroughly realised the great care, patience, and skill required to properly hybridise the different varieties; each pollen-bearing anther is carefully removed from the seed parents before the pollen is ripe;' after this it requires experience to see when the stigma is in a fit condition to receive the pollen from the flowers select-

*d for hybridising, the work in nearly all cases having to be done twice over, and when successfully accomplished, it is some months before the seed is ripe and ready for sowing; the seed is sown in boxes about eight or ten inches square and six inches deep. The little plants, which look very much like young onions, remain in their seedling boxes, which are put in cold frames, for two or sometimes three years, before they are strong enough to plant out; it is then two to four years more before they flower, and another two or three years after before they appear in their full and correct character; after all this care, trouble, and patient waiting, it is rarely that more than one in every four or five hundred are worth saving, so any which arc an improvement or advance may well be worth not five or ten guineas a bulb, but £SO to £IOO each.” There are many others we might mention -who are doing good work in this connection, did space permit, but we must not conclude without mentioning Messrs. Cartwright and Goodwin, who have taken up the work, and bid fair to command success. Mr. Cartwright is the raiser of a very charming white trumpet variety named Miss Clinch, not yet in commerce. It is described as one of the best white trumpets in existence. All we have written refers to English growers. 'Are we doing anything in this Dominion? We are unable to say anything regarding our Southern friends, but in the Auckland province Professor Thomas is doing splendid work. It has been our privilege to examine some collections which Prof. Thomas staged at our spring exhibitions of late years, and we were more than pleased with the results, and look forward with pleasure to the hope of seeing at our forthcoming show something even better than the choice varieties Prof. Thomas has previously shown. The market in New Zealand for new varieties is a very limited one, but enthusiastic growers are yearly increasing: and we should be glad to see Professor Thomas place some of his new varieties on the market, so that our up-to-date growers may have a chance of testing colonial bulbs alongside of the English raised. 1 <£

List of Really Good Narcissus. We give a list of the names in the various sections which are really good flowers, and can be secured from the seedsmen at prices from one penny to one shilling each.

Yellow Trumpets.—Ard Righ, Curvantes, Emperor, Glory of Leyden, Golden Spur, Major, Maximus, M. J. Berkeley. SDI-colour Trumpets.—J. B. M. Camm, Empress, Grandis, Madame Plemp, Mrs. Walter T. Ware, Princeps, Victoria. White, or White and Sulphur Trumpets. —Albicans, Cernus, Cernus Fulcher, C. W. Cowan, Mrs. Camm,' Mrs. Thompson, Snowflake, Tortuosus, Wm. Goldring, W. P. Milner. Incomparable Section. —Autocrat, Beauty, C. J. Backhouse, Commander, Frank Miles, Gwyther, King of the Netherlands, Lui worth, Mabel Cowan, Princess Mary, Queen Sophia, Sir Watkin, Stella, Stella Superba. Barri Section.— Conspicuus, Crown Prince, Flora Wilson. Golden Mary, Mariam Barton,' Orphee, Sensation, Siddington. ■Lee ds i Section. —Amabilis, Duchess of Brabant, Duchess of Westminster, Grand Duchess, Katherine Spurrell, Madge Matthew, Mrs. Langtry, Minnie Hume, Palmerston, Burbidgei, or Hybrid Poeticus Section.— Agnes Barr, Burbidgei, Ellen Barr, Falstaft', John Bain, Vanessa. Poeticus, or Poet’s Daffodil. —Pheasant’s Eye, Ornatus, Poetarumi, Ptraecox Gra ndiflora. Double Section. —Alba Plena Odorata, Butter and Eggs, Eggs and Bacon, Codlins and Cream. Jt

CLASSIFICATION OF DAFFODILS With a view to simplifying the various flivisions or sections into which up to the present the narcissus has been divided, the Royal Horticultural Society of England has adopted a new classification. It is as follows: — First: Lwig Trumpets. . Second: Short Trumpets. Third: Large cups. Fourth: Small cups, which includes , the old Burbridgei, Poeticus, and •uch like.

Fifth: Flat cups, such as Engleheartii type. Sixth: Doubles. Seventh: Buneh flowered, or the old Polyanthus-nareissus, which contain two or more flowers on a stem. The Society has published a list of every known variety, and as far as possible the number of the division to which it belongs. J*

FANCY-PRICED NARCISSUS. Amateurs are often misled by seeing flowers of daffodils at exhibitions, and making notes of their names, to find on inquiring at the bulb dealers that the varieties which they have- noted are very expensive, sometimes one to five guineas each bulb. Now, we think it would be a good plan—and one certainly which would commend itself to the novice or the amateur seeking for something different to what he already has, if on the name-card of all fancy-priced varieties on exhibition, the cost per bulb was stated. A bulb merchant has put it on record that, after a daffodil show a lady who had admired some varieties shown sent him an order for a few dozens. She was rather astonished when informed that the little lot would cost over £500! Well, exhibitions are intended to educate the people, not to frighten them; and we feel sure that were exhibitors to indicate in some such way as we suggest the probable cost of each bulb it would greatly assist all in making a selection.

(To the Editor “Weekly Graphic.”) TAI TAPU, July 30. Sir, —I should like to call the attention of raisers of seedling daffodils to the fact that the Canterbury Horticultural Society has appointed a committee to consider the merits of New Zealand seedling daffodils, with the object of awarding first-class certificates, and certificates of merit to such varieties as may be considered deserving. Further information may be obtained from yours, etc., A. E. LORNE, Hon. Sec. Narcissus Committee, Tai Tapu, Christchurch.

We are pleased to learn that Canterbury growers have appointed a committee to certificate new varieties of merit. It would be well if Northern growers followed suit, and still better were an amalgamation or an affiliation effected. The time is not far off when we must have in the Dominion a society on somewhat similar lines to the Royal (in England) to appoint expert committees, which would deal with all new plants. We welcome the Canterbury Committee as a step towards this consummation, and shall be pleased to publish a record of their awards, if they will send us a report. VERONICA. NOTICES OF BOOKS. ’’Rose Growing Made Easy,” by J. G. Lockley, editor “Amateur Gardening,” a book for Australian amateurs. (Sydney Amateur Gardener Proprietary.) This is a very attractively got up little book of some 100 pages, printed on good paper, in clear type. The idea pne gets at the outset is that nothing is to be taken for granted, for we find the be-

ginner interrogated at the start: “You know nothing of roses?” “No.” “Do you know a rose plant when you see it?” “Yes, I do.” “That is enough to begin with. There are quite a number of folk who cannot tell a rose bush from a pumpkin vine.” We hardly expected to find our Australian cousins so dense as the writer makes out, but presume he knows his own people. The instructions given for trenching and draining are clear and understandable. The remarks on liming are somewhat crude. Lime should “not be dug well in,” as recommended, the tendency of lime is to penetrate, and hence it should only be slightly raked in. Unslacked lime should not “be scattered about on the surface.” It ought to be put in heaps, covered with soil, watered, and spread three days afterwards Manuring is liberally dealt with. The chapters on planting and pruning are well written, and so intelligently illustrated with splendid photographs, that even the man who didn’t know a rose from a pumpkin vine could hardly go wrong. Growing roses on sandy soil, and the list of kinds which succeed on such soils, will be much appreciated by many who work this class of land. A plea is put in for rose hedges, which we are glad the writer has not overlooked, and we confess that Mr. Lockley’s enthusiasm for standards is infectious. It is not often nowadays that one meets admirers of this old form of growing. Special stress is laid on using the proper stocks for this purpose, and the name of the kinds which succeed in the different States are given. We should like to know what stock would suit New Zealand best, for so far as we can see the growing of standards or even halfstandards is entirely neglected here, which is much to be regretted. We commend the perusal of this chapter to all in search of a good way of growing standards in the colonies, for we do not remember ever reading anything out here so well calculated to foster a love for standards. Advice on propagating from cuttings, a favourite method in Australia, is very full, and the illustrations first class. Budding and grafting is also clearly written; in fact, all that an amateur needs to know in this connection is here given in a manner which the merest novice nuay easily follow. On raising new roses from seed, there is a short article, but we are inclined to differ from Mr. Lockley when he asserts that “this is the work of men and women who are artists and not amateurs.” Amateurs have as good, and often a better, chance of succeeding at this work as have any of our rosebreeders. The rose-breeder liar to work for a living; the amateur takes it up as a recreation, and can give time and attention to the work. Rose-growing from seed can be done by anyone, and it is a (fascinating employment, and does not entail anything like the same amount of patient waiting as does growing daffodils from seed. Other .subjects treated are insect pests and remedies, cutting roses, exhibition roses, technical terms, etc. Taken as a whole, this book is certainly one of the best it has been our pleasure to peruse. Mr. Lockley expresses himself in terse English, without any padding, and he has produced a book admirably suited for Australia, and, with very few modifications, for New Zealand also. The illustrations throughout are of the highest order. We warmly congratulate Mr. Lockley on his production, and recommend the book to all who desire to know about roses. VERONICA.