Evening star., 1938-09-03

slley siloulu Ue plduIeQ IN september
Daffodils as the English call the
them, and jonquils to the average
flower buyer. are terms that refer te
one and the same thing. Daffodil is
the common name for the whole
narcissus family. Both are generic
terms Jonquil, however. is one sec.
ton of the daffodil family-a small
cluster foWered type with reedlike
dark green foliage and the sweetest
fragrance.
The daffodil family has been divided
into IL classes, depending upon the
shape, size and coloring of the trumpe,
'cup) The classes are further sub
divided according to color. But that
is for the specialist. We are interested
IN flowers that bloom in the spring
almost before the snow is off the
ground.
We want the large yellow trumpets
some of the bunch fowered (poetaz)
the little fragrant jonquils, and the
late towering poets. OF course, if you
want to be specialist you will have
some of the very early Towering types
cyclamlneus hybrids, such as February
Gold and March Sunshine. For the
rock garden the dwarf triandrus
hybrlds, such as Angels Tears, Pearly
Queen and Thalia, are useful. There
are types for almost every purpose, in
Guiding the tender opportunities which
SO many OF us grow in the house in
the winter.
The daffodils are the shoWiest and
most useful of the early spring flower
ing bulbs and do we'll in this area
They make a fine display in the yard.
are excellent for cut flowers, and do
equally we'll in shady and in sunny
positions. When once planted they
may remain undisturbed for several
years. There are paintings that have
remained untouched for 40 years. but
most varieties become so crowded
after to 10 years that they do not
flower well. A few varieties are 50
vigorous that they need dividing more
often-3 to years.
X X
DAFFoD1Ls may be planted under
shrubbery, in the flower border.
along drives or in the open lawn.
They seem to do we'll wherever
planted. The one drawback to nat
uralized paintings in the lawn is that
the foliage should not be cut until
the bulbs have matured-usually late
June or early July-a rather long
period to leave the grass uncut. Per-
sonally. l like to plant them in the
edges of the shrub border. where
they bloom before the shrubs leaf out
There the leaves of the shrubs hide
the dying foliage The shrub roots
take the moisture from the soil In
the summer, thus making a good
storage condition for the bulbs.
Since the daffodil bulbs are to re-
main undisturbed for several wears
the wise gardener carefully prepares
the bed before planting. AS the bulbs
are planted rather deeply and the
roots usually go down, not up, for
tood and moisture. the Bed should
be prepared to a depth of II to 1S
inches. Most of the plant food should
be IN the lower 6 inches.
Almost all varieties Of daffodils pre-
Ter a well-drained soil. Standing
water is just as much a drawback
10 them as it is to other flowers
and shrubs. In some gardens drain
age is provided by raising the bulb
beds above the level of the lawn. A
more satisfactory way is to use tile
drainage, especially in our heavy clay
soils
Ample humus is needed for moisture
holding and for food. Wel-rotted
COW manure, if obtainable, NAV be
USED IN the very bottom of the bed
be sure that none comes in contact
with the bulbs. Leaf-mold, compost
or peatmoss may be used to improve
the soil. Daffodils will grow and
bloom IN a heavy clay soil without
the benefit of humus. but thev will
not give the fine display that is 50
desirable Bone meal and wood ashes
should be mixed in the soil during
Its preparation.
IN planting datfodils the old rule
OF three times the depth of the bulbs
may be followed, but remember that
shallow planting encourages and deem
plantlng dlscourages multiplication.
Most OF the common varieties of DAFT
todlls are best planted inches deem
Some OF the smaller ones-such as
the Jonqulls-may be less than inches
deep. The best effect is obtained if
they are planted in groups of 6 to -
bulbs, the individual bulbs being
spaced from 6 to inches apart.
Do not mulch the beds until the
ground has frozen. Remove the mulch
IN the spring in early March before
the tips OF the leaves begin to push
through. Give the beds a complete
fertilizer after the mulch is removed.
Daffodlls planted in a protected
spot will give much earlier bloom than
those planted in a wind-swept loca-
ton. For long season of bloom
try scattering your paintings around
the yard-some in protected places
and others in the open.
X X
N SELECTING the bulbs. for plant
ing it is preferable to buy double
nosed bulbs, for they will give two
blooms. while a round-nosed bulb will
produce but one flower the first sea-
son. Most dealers sell double
bulbs. Healthy bulbs are essential to
results Avoid bulbs that are
discolored. or that have soft spots.
Bulbs that have been treated do not
flower so well the first season, but they
are less apt to be infected with disease
Or pests. BY buying clean bulbs you
should have no trouble from either.
The list of varieties is endless. There
are the old standbys. the newer and
Shower ones, and the rare varieties
for the collectors. For the beginner
mixture of good bulbs from a reliable
dealer or grower is probably the cheap
est and most satisfactory way to start |
For the gardener who prefers to select
his own, the following list of depend
able inexpensive varieties will serve as