The Culit Daffodil

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 13, 28 September 1910, Page 37

The Culit Daffodil

HE growing of Daffodils Tin the Dominion of New ! Zealand continues to ! make progress. Albeit that progress is comparatively slow, we are SSSSSmSw inelined to the opinion arejkgreyr that it is sure. Many BtaBBBtaBB amateurs are deterred ar from entering the lists rs ns growers owing to the prevalent idea that the cultivation of this favourX' ite spring Hower is an exNpy/ pensive undertaking, and only suited for those with long purses. This, however, is an altogether erroneous idea, for the great bulk of really good standard varieties are very cheap. A few shillings expended on bulbs will go a long way, so that anyone may, if so disposed, begin to cultivate these flowers. Of course, if a grower desires to possess a collection of the latest varieties put on the market, this will cost a good deal, but for a beginner it is better to leave these novelties alone

until their merits are better known, and by that time the price will be very much lower. The prices asked and obtained for new narcissus are out of all proportion to their merits, and the reason for

the high price is that the propagation of narcissus is a very slow process. There is the seven to ten years of waiting for seedlings to develop, and. when a really good thing has been secured, all the pro-

pupation ha- to begin with one bulb. ami. when we consider all the long, slow processes to Im* gone through before a new kind can be -ullicient ly propagated to be put on the market, it will not be wondered at that the price asked is high. Within recent year- horticultural pur <uits ha\c been specialised in a very marked degree. The old plan ot gene ral plant raisers has had to give way to the specialist, who ha- taken up and carried on his experiments in a scientific manner, with results eininenllx -atifactory. and still brighter pro-peds ahead, lor it is recognised there ran be no standing -till in the plant world, each recorded success being but the spur to achieve something still belter. Nothing approaching the enthusiasm of present da y dalfodil specialists ha- ever been known, nor have tin* rewards of that enthusiasm ever been so pronounced, and it is gratifying to Britishers that English glowers lead the world in this art. We have had some good things from I reland. and the Dutch grower- ha\c also done good work. In New Zealand this work is being carried forward quietly, too quietly we consider, for some of the

seedlings raised by the intelligent ami painstaking efforts of Professor 'Thomas only require to be better known to be appreeiated. In the South Island several growers are doing excellent work, but they also are very quiet about what they have done, and we should advise them to let us know what they are <l“ ing. Daffodil growing is a fascinating study, and the fact that they arc so easily grown, and require very little in the way of attention beyond keeping them free from weed*. should induct* everyone with a garden to grow them. The naturalisation of daffodils in grass land has not received much attention in New Zealand. Many of the older varieties lend themselves to this method, and they are so inexpensive and require so little attention that they should be planted in thousands. Any odd piece of grass land near a dwelling will suit them, ami when in tlower there is no more charming sight.