Among the Daffodils.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 39

Among the Daffodils.

“The Gardener,” referring to the Truro Daffodil show recently, held in Cornwall, says:—“Of chief interest were the exhibits of newer varieties and unnamed seedlings. Practically Messrs ,1. C. and P. D. Williams monopolised these. The former seemed the stronger in trumpets, and the latter in invomparabilis and parvis, though each showed some very fine examples of all sections. MODERN TRUMPET DAFFODILS.. Of the established new varieties King Alfred was, of course, the most prominent in the trumpets; some splendid flowers of it were shown: two other modern ones thought well of being Mervyn and Outpost. King’s Norton, too, was shown very finely indeed. Except for some new seedlings the bicolour trumpets were very poorly represented, the old Victoria easily being the finest; and practically no white trumpets except Alice Knights.

EUCHARIS FLOWERED NARCISSI. The feature of the Leedsis was undoubtedly White Queen, shown on several stands, and always in exceedingly good form. Lord Kitchener was shown more than once, and is also very tine, quite equal to Empire, which I also saw, but this was probably not a first rate specimen. Lemon Star, Longfellow and Sailor are all good, the latter two not better than Evangeline or Pilgrim, but Lemon Star is certainly distinct and good. Among incomparabilis. Bernardino and Macehearer struck me as good, and Homespun, of course, was conspicuous in its excellence. But the one that I picked out of all was Gadfly; it is a very fine flower, very white perianth, and deep scarlet shallow cup. Furnace is good, the colour of the cup clean, strong and uniform, and Bedouin is a fine flower, both in colour and size. In my opinion, however. Robespierre (I think a seedling of Mr. I’. D. Williams) is an improvement on Bedouin; it is like it in every wav, but. distinctly larger and I think a better formed cup, also quite as fine, if not a finer coloured flower.

A NEW POET’S NARCISSUS. Of others I call to mind King Cup, a beautiful flower, and Wonderland, which has a very fine perianth. Incognita was shown, but was eclipsed by a seedling of Mr. J. C. Williams under a number: this was just Incognita perfected in size, form and colour, a really magnificent flower. There was also a portions shown numbered !>!)!) that should make a sensation —like Tennyson, but larger. Some extraordinary seedlings were in evidence, with tin* crowns nearly as large as the perianths; Sunflower was one of these. Perhaps the finest of the new seedlings in the show was one of Mr. .1. C. Williams’ labelled 1.A., a most beautiful incomparabilis somewhat of Homespun type, but quite distinct, colour quite uniform soft butter yellow, deeper, clearer and brighter than in Homespun. AN ORANGE YELLOW DAFFODIL. Then there were Medusa, an Englehearti of Furnace type, but much more striking in colour and mirch better form: Michael (in Messrs. Barr’s stand), a very

line self n.mper of vrrv good form, ami w hat a ppeared to mt* a Jonquil cross after the style of Buttercup. colour ext raordiua rilv deep, almost orange yellow. the nearest by a long way to an orange trumpet yet. To sum up. my pick of the above Howers an* Robes pierre. Gadfly. Medusa, the Incognita like Hower. LA.. Michael, and the last described But ter cup dike hybrid.

ORNATUS.