POETICUS divides naturally into early and late flowering varieties, a circumstance which is not generally known. (In our arrangement we have followed Haworth.) It is from the early section, especially Poeticus ornatus, that Covent Garden is supplied with cut flowers of Poeticus from January to

N. POLTICUS ORNATUS. Very much reduced from natural size.

April. The growth of two flowers on a stem is common to all the Poeticus, early and late, but it is not constant; sometimes three flowers are met with, but this is very exceptional. We trust the Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society have withdrawn the certificate they gave in the spring of 1884 to a group of two-flowered Poeticus ornatus.

March and April-flowering Poeticus. ANGUSTIFOLIUS (radiiflorus), perianth pure white, cup narrowly margined orange-red. ORNATUS (the flat-crowned saffion rim), perianth pure white, broad and well formed, cup margined with scarlet.

GRANDIFLORUS, perianth pure white, very large, cup more or less suffused with crimson." POETARUM (saffron cupped), perianth pure white, broad, cup suffused with bright orange-scarlet. *SPATHULATUS (the lesser saffron rim), perianth white, cup smal', edged with saffron. TRIPODALIS, perianth pure white, cup full size, and margined with saffron.

May-flowering Poeticus.

POETICUS of Linnæus (middle size), the flowers of this are about an inch in diameter, very sturdy and finely formed, perianth pure white, cup edged with saffron; the single of the small double white Gardenia-flowered Poeticus. RECURVUS (the drooping leaved); this is common in English gardens; perianth pure white, reflexed somewhat, with a slight doubling inwards logitudinally. The leaves droop so much that the plant looks untidy. Are there varieties of this with less drooping foliage?

MAJALIS, this is figured in Herbert's Amaryllidacea, pl. 40, fig. 2; divisions of the perianth

pure white, well formed, and generally flat, cup edged with saffron, leaves erect.

STELLARIS, for some weeks before the flower expands

may be noticed a little bladder.like distended spathe about an inch long, from which in due course emerges the flower; perianth pure white, cup margined with saffron.

PATELLARIS (the large broad petalled), the Narcissus purpureus maximus of Parkinson, tab. 75, fig. 2, and the single of the large double white Gardenia-flowered Poeticus so abundant everywhere; perianth pure white, flat, finely formed, with the large cup edged with saffron, leaves

erect.

VERBANUS (verbanensis); in gardens this graceful

little species is taller and larger flowered than figured by Herbert, tab. 37, fig. 2; perianth white slightly tinged with cream, cup edged with saffron. Verbanus is a corrected name of Herbert's, and which seems to have been generally overlooked.

May flowering Poeticus-continued. *PURPUREO-CINCTUS (the dwarf purple rimmed);

"

this, Parkinson calls Narcissus minimus mediopurpureus, and says it was sent to him by Mr. John de Franqueuille, adding, "but his naturall place wee know not." *CROCEO-CINCTUS (the dwarf saffron rimmed); this Parkinson calls Narcissus medio-croceus tenuifolius, and in his quaint fashion informs us "these Daffodils have been brought us from the Pyrenæen mountains, amongst a number of other rare plants."

Herbert is of opinion that the above two Narcissi must be nearly allied to Poeticus verbanus, and as amateurs are now interesting themselves in collecting Daffodils, the loveliest and hardiest of all spring flowers, these two may be rediscovered. Herbert states that Poeticus verbanus was "brought to Bolton Percy in Yorkshire a few years ago, by Mrs. Robert Markham, who found it growing in a pasture about a mile from Baveno, near Lago Maggiore, on the side of the road to Milan, the bulbs being found single and scattered about the pasture, not growing in tufts."

Eiflorus (? Poeticus x Tazetta).-Many amateurs are interested in the beautiful seedling hybrid Daffodils which have been raised during the last half century, and as no positive knowledge exists as to the crosses, some cultivators are endeavouring to find this out by hybridising. Therefore any quotations made in connection with the present list are intended to elicit inquiry. The notes following Biflorus sterilis, etc., are from Herbert's Amaryllidacea (p. 317). and is here reproduced to test whether, after the lapse of half a century, the conditions are the

same.

"BIFLORUS STERILIS, Bot. Mag., t. 197; twoflowered, without pollen or ovules in our gardens, perhaps from having been raised by offsets three centuries or more, without renovation by seed. I see no reason to think it a hybrid production, for it does not exhibit appearances intermediate between those of any two narcissean genera or even species."

"TRIFLORUS, 2-4-flowered, from the South of France; ovules perfect; flowers rather smaller, and the white clearer."

"DIANTHUS, Haworth; unknown to me, but described as two-flowered, with a very plicate and darker yellow or orange cup."

Gracilis (Juncifolia x Tazetta), rush-leaved, 1-3
and sometimes even 5-flowered; flowers hori-
zontal, with long slender tubes, spreading
perianth, and shallow cup, all the parts being
yellow; an elegant plant, and late flowering.
TENUIOR (the slender straw-coloured), perianth
sulphury white, cup yellow; a graceful plant.
*PLANICORONA (the slender flat-crowned); Haworth,

Herbert, and Rev. H. Ellacombe were acquainted
with this plant, and it may still be in Mr. Eila-
combe's collection. Parkinson observes of this,
under the name Narcissus minimus juncifolius
flore (the least Daffodil of all):
"This least

Daffodill hath two or three whitish greene leaves,
not above two or three inches long, the stalk
likewise is not above three or four inches high,
bearing one single flower at the toppe, somewhat
bigger than the smallnesse of the plant should
seeme to beare, very like unto the least Rush
Daffodill, and of the same bignesse, or rather
somewhat bigger, being of a faint yellow colour,
both leaves, and cup, or crowne (if you please
so to call it); for the middle part is spread very
much, even to the middle of the leaves almost,
and lyeth flat open upon the flower; the roote
is small, even the smallest of any Daffodill,
and covered with a blackish skinne or coate.
The root, he adds, was brought to him, "by
a Frenchman called Francis le Veau, the
honestest roote-gatherer that ever came over to
us."-Paradisus, p. 88.

"

Tazetta, or Bunch flowered Polyanthus Daffodilscontinued.

PRÆCOX (?) perianth white, cup primrose.
SIR WALTER SCOTT, perianth white, cup yellow.
STATEN GENERAL, perianth white, cup yellow.
Yellow with Yellow or Orange Cup.

[ye'low.

APOLLO, perianth primrose, cup deep yellow.
AUREUS, perianth and cup full yellow.
*CHRYSANTHUS,† perianth lemon-yellow, cup golden
*BERTOLONII,+ perianth and cup full yellow.
BATHURST, perianth primrose, cup orange.

GRAND SOLEIL D'OR, perianth rich yellow, cup orange.
JAUNE SUPREME, perianth primrose, cup orange.
ITALICUS,+ perianth pale lemon, cup sulphur.
INTERMEDIUS,+ perianth primrose, cup yellow,
BIFRONS,† perianth full yellow, cup orange.
*PRIMULINUS (the Cowslip cupped).
*BICRENATUS+ (the large Cowslip cupped).
RADIATUS.+

LATICOLOR, perianth pale lemon, cup yellow.
LAURA, perianth primrose, cup orange.

LORD CANNING, perianth primrose, cup yellow.
MERCURIUS, perianth primrose, cup orange.
SCHIZANTHES ORIENTALIS, perianth primrose, cup

yellow, elegantly lobed. This forms the genus Schizanthes of Haworth, and is figured in Bot. Mag., t. 948, as N. orientalis B, but subsequently under t. 1298 referred to N. incomparabilis. SIR ISAAC NEWTON, perianth yellow, cup orange. White, with White Cup. [flower. CANARIENSIS,† perianth and cup white, small neat *DUBIUS,+ perianth and cup white. (Burbidge states

that it grows about Toulon, Marseilles, Avignon, and Nice; will some one send flowers to one of the Horticultural Society's meetings in 1885 ?) PACHYBULBUS,+ perianth and cup white, small neat flower.

PAPYRACEUS+ (unicolor, niveus), perianth and cup white, full-sized flower; this is the Narcissus known in commerce as Paper White, and much used for early forcing.

*PANIZZIANUS,+ perianth and cup white. POLYANTHUS,† perianth and cup white; this plant has been naturalized on the Islands of Scilly for generations, it is supposed. AUTUMN-FLOWERING

VIRIDIS, flowers green; reintroduced into cultivation by Mr. George Maw, winter 1883. SEROTINUS, perianth white, cup yellow, small ELEGANS, perianth white, cup yellow. *OBSOLETUS,+ perianth white, cup yellow.

VII. AURELIA.

[flower.

BROUSSONETII, flowers white; figured by Burbidge, plate 47.

for Mr. Gerard first discovered it to the world, finding it in a poore woman's garden in the West parts of England, where it grew before the woman came to dwell there, and, as I have heard since, is naturall of the Isle of Wight Sometimes the flower showeth a close and round yellow trunke in the middle, separate from the pale outer wings, which trunke is very double, showing some pale leaves within it, dispersed among the yellow. And sometimes the trunke is more open, or in part broken, showing forth the same colours intermixed within it; the flower passing away with. out giving any seed."-Parkinson, p. 104. TELAMONIUS PLENUS (Wilmer's great double

Daffodil); "the stalk riseth to bee two foote
high, growing (in a fruitfull and fat soyle)
strong, and somewhat round, bearing at the
toppe, out of a thin skinne, one great and
fair double flower
diversly intermixed

with a rowe of paler, and a rowe of deeper
yellow leaves, wholly dispersed throughout the
flower, the pale colour as well as the deeper
yellow
Sometimes the leaves hereof

are scattered, and spread wholly, making it shew a faire, broad open flower; and sometimes the outer leaves stand separate from the middle trunke, which is whole and unbroken, and very thicke of leaves; and sometimes the middle trunke will be halfe broken as it is likewise seene in the small English kinde this beareth no seed." -Parkinson. p. 102. This Daffodil is common at Florence, from whence it may be supposed it was introduced into this country about the year 1620. The single form is to be found growing with it, but not abundantly. In England the small double native plant is scarce; whereas at Florence the large single native plant is scarce, and variable. Attention is particularly called to this variable character to account for differences in the double forms of this Daffodil; for example, there was this year exhibited at South Kensington, besides the long-trumpet double Telamonius in all its gradations, one with the trumpet shorter, thicker and lighter in colour, while the foliage was of a darker green. (Was it Haworth's Telamonius pleno pallidus acuminatus?)

Double Daffodils-continued.

PLENISSIMUS (John Tradescant's great Rose Daffo dil). "This Prince of Daffodils belongeth primarily to John Tradescant, as the first founder thereof, that we know, and may well bee entitled the Glory of Daffodils." The stalk, almost as high as Wilmer's great Double Daffodil, "bearing at the toppe one faire large great flower (before it breake open, being shorter and thicker in the middle, and ending in a longer and sharper point than any of the other Daffodils) very much spread open. and double as any Provence Rose."-Parkinson, p. 102. This Daffodil is not much known, the one usually sold for it, viz., lobularis grandiplenus, is dwarfer. * PLENUS LACINIIS PALLIDIS (the great Double Yellow Spanish Daffodil), the stalk almost as high as Wilmer's great double Daffodil, "bearing one double flower at the toppe, always spread open. . . the outermost leaves whereof being of a greenish colour at first, and afterwards more yellow, doe a little turn themselves back to the stalk. Those leaves that stand in the middle are smaller, and some of them show as if they were hollow trunked. .. I thinke none ever had this kind before myselfe, nor did I myself ever see it before the year 1618, for it is of mine own raising, and flowering first in my own garden."-Parkinson, p. 103. *GALLICUS MAJOR FLORE-PLENO (the great double French Daffodil). The stalk riseth up not much higher than the smaller French kinde, but a little bigger, bearing at the top one great double flower, which, when it is fully and perfectly blowne open (which is but seldome; for that it is very tender, the leaves being much thinner, and thereby continually subject, upon any little distemperature of the time, to cleave so fast one unto another that the flower cannot blow open faire) is a faire and a goodly flower larger by halfe than the smaller kinde, and fuller of leaves, of the same pale whitish yellow or lemon colour not set in the same order of but more confusedly together."Parkinson, p. 103. *LOBULARIS PLENUS (the common deep yellow double Daffodil) of Haworth. Can any one settle what this is? (Haworth confuses Lobularis and Obvallaris, he calls Lobularis the Tenby

rows

...

Double Daffodils-continued.

dil," and Lobularis stand to the fine form of typical Pseudo-Narcissus, and its two double varieties, as determined by the Daffodil Conference Committee.

The two following are comparatively dwarf growing, and are supposed to be the double of the plant called Lobularis, ranged under Pseudo-Narcissus :

PSEUDO-NARCISSUS LOBULARIS PLENUS (the dwarf double light yellow). Per doz., 3s. 6d.; each, 4d. GRANDIPLENUS (the dwarf double light yellow). This flower spreads to a large size when fully open, and a fine specimen will show as many as 10 or 12 centres from which petals or organs radiate, thus having the appearance of 10 or 12 small Narcissi bound together.

NANUS PLENUS, stated by Dr. Brown, of Hull, to have been raised by him from seed; he has one bulb only, the flower of which was sent by him to the Conference. One bulb was also found amongst bulbs of Nanus from Lincolnshire by Mr. T. S. Ware. So far, therefore, as is known at present, these are the only two bulbs of this Narcissus. CAPAX PLENUS (Queen Ann's double Daffodil), also

....

called eystettensis. Haworth supposed it was the double of Calathinus. Herbert, that it was the double of Minor. Parkinson places it with the trumpet section under the name PseudoNarcissus gallicus minor flore-pleno, but it is doubtful, and remarks on it as follows:-"The rootes of this lesser French kinde (if I may law. fully call it).. a bastard Daffodill. I somewhat doubt thereof, in that the flower.. is not made after the fashion . . . of the other bastard Daffodills, but resembles the form of the double white Daffodill . . . bearing one faire double flower.. of a pale lemon colour, consisting of 6 rows of leaves, every row growing smaller than the other unto the middle, and so set and placed, that every leafe of the flower doth stand directly almost in all, one

N. CAPAX FL. PL. Very much reduced from natural size.

upon or before another into the middle, where the leaves are smallest, the outermost being the greatest."-Parkinson, p. 105. CERNUUS FLORE ELEGANTISSIME PLENO (the double white trumpet Daffodil).

CERNUUS FLORE ELEGANTISSIME PLENO BICINCTUS (the double white trumpet Daffodil with the divisions of the perianth in duplicate).

II. MEDIICORONATI.

The Double-flowered Nonsuch or Peerless Daffodils, etc.

INCOMPARABILIS AURANTIUS PLENUS (Butter and Eggs). Of this there are at least two varieties differing in the colour of the flower, and the shade of green in the foliage. One appears to have come from a pure full yellow, the other from a sulphur yellow, and for observation it is suggested that the yellow more generally gives the full rose-like flower, and the sulphur the full

ALBUS PLENUS AURANTIUS (Eggs and Bacon, Orange Phoenix). Of this it has been said there are two varieties, to be distinguished by the greater or lesser brightness of the orange cup.

ALBUS PLENUS SULPHUREUS (Codlings and Cream, Sulphur Phoenix). The supposed single form of this is Incomparabilis semipartitus. Under certain conditions of culture the three fore. going plants exhibit gradations of doubleness from the most perfect rose-like flower to a cup In this latter degenerate with a few florets. state many persons suppose the flower is making efforts to become double, whereas it is attempting to go single.

It is not uncommon for Butter and Eggs to become single, but it is a rare occurrence for either Eggs and Bacon or Codlings and Cream to do so.

ODORUS MINOR PLENUS (Queen Ann's Double Jonquil, flowers of a rich full yellow, not unlike a small yellow rose.

III. PARVICORONATI.

POETICUS PATELLARIS PLENO ALBO CUM CROCEO. This is the double Poeticus, or large Gardeniaflowered double white Daffodil, to be found in most gardens; and as the doubling and singling of this flower is at present being discussed, extracts have been freely made from Parkinson, as without doubt there are varieties of double Poeticus. The small Gardenia-flowered double white Daffodil comes from the small-flowered Poeticus of Linnæus. Now, as Parkinson made a very careful study of the individual characteristics of all his Daffodils, something may be learned from his observations; at least attention is drawn to the subject, and as many minds are being directed to the question, good results may be brought out

...

The

Double White Gardenia flowered Dutch roots, NARCISSUS MEDIO-PURPUREUS MULTIPLEX (the double Purple Ring Daffodill). "There is little difference in the leaves of this kind from the leaves of the single purple-ringed Daffodil; for it is probable it is of the same kinde, but by nature's gift (and not by any human art), made more plentiful, which abideth constant. chiefest difference is that the flower (being but sometimes one on a stalk, and sometimes two) consisteth of six white outer leaves, as large as the leaves of the single kinde, having many small yellow pieces, edged with purple circles round about them, instead of a cup, and in the middle of these pieces stand other six white leaves, lesser than the former, and a yellow cup edged with a purple circle likewise, parted into