Part 13

There is scarcely a nook in the garden, large or small, where Daffodils cannot be grown. And yet it is astonishing to note their general absence from suburban gardens, where they would not only grow freely, but also make a cheerful picture in the spring-time.

PLATE 26. LILIUM MARTAGON ALBUM (95) WATSONIA ARDERNEI (96) LILIUM RUBELLUM (97) LILIUM COLCHICUM (98)

Daffodils--with the exception, perhaps, of a very few varieties--require as little attention, and even less than Snowdrops or Crocuses. Once planted they may be left undisturbed for years, and as each season comes round they gaily shoot their blue-green strap-shaped leaves and creamy or golden blossoms through the ground.

They grow in almost any soil, but prefer a rather stiff and well-drained loam. They are appropriate in any situation in the flower border or rockery. But their natural position is undoubtedly in the grass, or--

"Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze,"

As Wordsworth has it.

=When to Plant.=--The best time to plant Daffodil bulbs is from the end of August to November. As there is a great difference in the size of the bulbs, according to the variety, the depth of planting should vary accordingly. Thus bulbs 1 to 2 inches deep from top of neck to base should be planted quite 3 or 4 inches deep, while larger ones will be planted 4 to 6 inches deep in proportion, and about the same distance apart, except, of course, when they are used between other plants like Tulips, Wallflowers, Polyanthuses, &c., for a combination display in spring.

Most of the Daffodils are valuable for cutting and decorative purposes generally when in season, and when one has the convenience of a greenhouse--cold or otherwise--the flowering period can be extended from Christmas onwards.

Daffodils are most easily increased by the offsets from the old bulbs. These may be lifted in early summer, when the leaves have begun to turn yellow. Seeds may also be sown when ripe (see page 36), but to secure them the plants must be left much longer in the ground, so as to mature them.

Nearly all kinds of Daffodils--especially those having only one flower on a stem--may be grown in the open air. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, but the uninitiated may start with such kinds as the beautiful white and flat-flowered "Poet's Narcissus" (N. poeticus), which is also called the "Pheasant's Eye" Narcissus, because of the crimson and orange circles round the rim of the flat saucer-like "corona" in the centre (see Plate 7, fig. 29). There are several varieties of the Poet's Narcissus, one of the best for ordinary purposes being ornatus. Where the soil is particularly rich and well-drained the double-flowered variety, called the "Gardenia" Narcissus, owing to the shape of its beautiful white blossoms (see Plate 7, fig. 28), may be grown. Unfortunately this variety often comes "blind," that is, the blossoms remain undeveloped in the papery sheath on top of the stem. To check this the bulbs are best lifted and transplanted early to fresh soil. Another popular and easily-grown Daffodil is the common Double Yellow one known as Telamonius plenus or Van Sion. It is a form of the Tenby Daffodil (N. obvallaris) which is a single form with beautiful yellow flowers, having a large "trumpet" or corona in the centre. Closely related to this is the Great Spanish Daffodil (N. major) which has large bright lemon-yellow flowers, which are still larger and of richer yellow in the variety maximus.

="Ajax" Daffodils.=--To these may be added the numerous forms, of which the common Lent Lily (also called "Ajax" or "Trumpet Daffodil") is the type, and which has pale sulphur-yellow blossoms with a lemon-yellow "trumpet." Some of the finest Daffodils, with large spreading flowers and correspondingly large and deep trumpets, belong to this section, among which may be mentioned Ard Righ or Yellow King, C. W. Cowan, Colleen Bawn, Emperor, Glory of Leiden, Golden Spur, Henry Irving, Hudibras, John Nelson, Madame de Graaff (see Plate 4, fig. 17), Monarch, W. Goldring, &c. All these have single flowers varying in colour from almost pure white (as in C. W. Cowan, Colleen Bawn, and Madame de Graaff) to deep golden-yellow in many of the other varieties. There are a few double-flowered forms of the "Lent Lily," the best known being Capax, lemon-yellow; grandiplenus, deep yellow, plenissimus, and the Old Double Lent Lily grown in Gerarde's garden over 300 years ago.

="Bicolor" Daffodils.=--Another very fine group of Trumpet Daffodils are those known as "bicolors," so called because the spreading segments are one colour (generally white or creamy), while the trumpet is another colour (usually some shade of soft or deep yellow). Amongst the most popular forms in this group may be mentioned Ellen Willmott (see Plate 4, fig. 16), Empress, Grandee, Horsfieldi (see Plate 4, fig. 18), Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, Mrs. Morland Crossfield, Mrs. Walter T. Ware, Princeps or Irish Giant, Victoria, and Weardale Perfection (see Plate 6, fig. 26).

The "=Star Daffodils=" (N. incomparabilis) have spreading starry petals, and a cup or chalice-like corona or trumpet in the centre. They are a very free growing group, the commoner kinds of which (such as Autocrat, Cynosure, Stella) may be naturalised in thousands in the grass, where they may be seen at "a glance tossing their heads in sprightly dance." Some other very fine forms are C. J. Backhouse, Frank Miles, Geo. Nicholson, Gloria Mundi (see Plate 5, fig. 21), Lulworth (see Plate 6, fig. 27), Mary Anderson, Sir Watkin (see Plate 5, fig. 23), and Princess Mary of Cambridge (see Plate 5, fig. 21), &c., but there are many others. There are also several double varieties of Star Daffodils, the most common being "Butter and Eggs," Orange Phoenix (or Eggs and Bacon) and Sulphur Phoenix (or Codlins and Cream).

There are many other kinds of Daffodils which have only one flower on a stem, many of them being natural or artificial hybrids. Space will not permit detailed descriptions, but the following may be looked upon as the best:--Backhousei, Barri (with several forms), Bernardi, Burbidgei, (with several forms), gracilis, Humei, intermedius, Johnstoni (with several forms), Leedsi (with several fine forms), Macleayi, moschatus (with several forms, the best being cernuus), muticus, and Nelsoni (with several forms).

In the foregoing sections the blossoms are all of a fairly large size, and borne on stalks a foot or more high. There is, however a charming group in which the blossoms are in most cases comparatively small and the flower stalks short. These kinds are valuable for planting in bold masses in partially shaded places in the rockery, or in short grass.

N. cyclamineus is a charming little Daffodil. It belongs to the Lent Lily group botanically. The blossoms, however, are much smaller; the segments being lemon-yellow, and abruptly turned back upon the stalk from the orange-yellow cylindrical "trumpet." (See Plate 5, fig. 19.)

N. minor is another miniature form of Lent Lily, with gracefully-twisted sulphur-yellow segments surrounding a deeper yellow spreading "trumpet." The variety minimus is smaller still, with rich yellow flowers, while plenus (or Rip Van Winkle) is a double variety.

One kind that differs conspicuously from all others is the "Hooped Petticoat" or "Medusa Trumpet" Daffodil (N. Bulbocodium), at one time considered a distinct genus (Corbularia). It is a charming species, having bright-yellow flowers, the chief characteristic of which is the cone-like or broadly funnel-shaped trumpet. There are several varieties, such as citrinus (lemon-yellow), conspicuus (golden-yellow), Graellsi (primrose-yellow), monophyllus (snow-white, leaves solitary), nivalis, (orange-yellow).

PLATE 27. WATSONIA MERIANA (99) WATSONIA ALBA (100) WATSONIA ANGUSTA (101) MONTBRETIA CROCOSMIAEFLORA (102)

=Polyanthus or Tazetta Narcissus.=--Passing from the Daffodils with solitary flowers on a stalk, we come to a small group in which several blossoms adorn the top of the stem. The most important of these is perhaps the Polyanthus or Bunch Narcissus (N. Tazetta) which was well-known to the old Greek and Roman poets, although in a wild state it is met with eastwards across Europe and Asia, to China and Japan. The typical N. Tazetta has 4 to 8 flowers on top of the stem, the spreading segments being pure white and the cup-shaped corona lemon-yellow. There are many varieties, and although the individual blossoms are not very large, they are sometimes produced in much larger numbers than the type. The best-known varieties are the Scilly White, Grand Soleil d'or, Grand Monarque (Plate 6, figs. 24 and 25), and the Paper White--all largely grown in the open air in the Scilly Isles--but rather too tender for out-door cultivation in less favoured parts of the kingdom.

Of late years, a Chinese form (really only N. Tazetta) called the "Sacred Lily" or "Joss Flower," has attracted attention, and has been recommended for growing in ornamental bowls, &c., in drawing-rooms, in a compost (if it can be called such) of pebbles and clean water. The common mistake made in growing the Joss Lily in this way is that the plants do not get sufficient light in ordinary rooms, and consequently both leaves and stems are too weak to stand erect.

Other Daffodils with several flowers on a stalk are the Sweet-Scented Jonquil (N. Jonquilla), easily recognised by its roundish leaves and rich yellow flowers with a cup-shaped corona. There are several varieties including a double one known as "Queen Anne's Jonquil." The Rush-leaved Jonquil (N. juncifolius) with roundish rush-like leaves is closely related, its bright yellow blossoms being distinguished from those of the Jonquil by being fewer and having broader ovate segments.

N. triandrus, popularly called "Ganymede's Cup," is a charming little species with 1 to 6 pure-white flowers in which the segments are bent back from the cup-shaped corona. There are several varieties, including a lovely white one (albus) called "Angel's Tears," shown on Plate 5, fig. 20. Concolor, pale yellow; calathinus, white or sulphur-yellow; pallidulus, primrose-yellow; while pulchellus has primrose-yellow segments and a white corona.

The bulbs of N. triandrus and its varieties being rather small--half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter--the spots where they are planted should be marked, otherwise they are apt to get lost or destroyed. Until the stock is large they are probably safer grown in pots in cold frames.

As new varieties and hybrids are being added each year, the reader who wishes to grow novelties is advised to consult the bulb catalogues of such firms as Messrs. Barr & Sons, Covent Garden; Messrs. Ware, Feltham; Mr. Hartland, of Cork; Mr. Perry, Winchmore Hill, &c.

=NOTHOSCORDUM fragrans.=--A sturdy North American plant, 1 to 2 feet high, with roundish oblong bulbs, having thick fleshy roots. It is closely related to the Alliums, as may be seen by its umbels of white starry flowers, the segments of which are keeled with lilac on the outside.

This species grows in ordinary good garden soil of a gritty nature, and is easily increased by offsets.

=ORNITHOGALUM= (Star of Bethlehem).--Although a large genus, only a few species are considered worth growing, except in botanical collections. The best known representative of the group is probably the Common Star of Bethlehem (O. umbellatum), which is now naturalised in copses and meadows in some parts of England, and may be utilised in the same way in large gardens with an abundance of grass-land. The clusters of pure-white starry blossoms appear in May and June, on stalks about 1 foot high, and are keeled with green behind. Very similar in appearance are the flowers of O. arabicum, which, however, appear in June and July, and are much larger, sometimes 2 inches across, with golden anthers, and a shining black ovary in the centre, as shown in Plate 29, fig. 107. Unfortunately, this species is rather tender in the colder parts of the kingdom, and should be protected in winter. As an alternative the plants may be grown in pots in cold greenhouses, or in glasses of water in the same way as Hyacinths (see p. 84.) O. nutans, the drooping white flowers of which are also shown on Plate 29, fig. 108, is almost as hardy as O. umbellatum, and may be naturalised in the same way. O. arcuatum has pure white erect flowers in May and June on stalks 2 feet or more high. O. pyramidale, the white flowers of which have a green stripe behind, and are borne on stalks 1-1/2 to 2 feet high in June and July, is another species worth growing in masses in the shrubberies, or in the grass (see Plate 19, fig. 74); and O. pyrenaicum, with pale yellow-green flowers may be given similar treatment.