Evening star., 1948-08-29
Daffodils-What to Look For
All Types Do Not Do Well in This Area;
Watch the Shows to Make Selection
By w. n. Younomon


parent are apt to wilt quickly. Very
few varieties have thin, weak trum-
pets-cups.
Most Of the difficulties Of settling
upon desired varieties in q given
area can be met by observing the
varieties exhibited at a local daf1odil
show. This Is subject to qualifica-
ton because practically any variety
can be grown for at least one year
II its's necessary special cultural re-
quirements are observed. This is
seldom done by the amateur gar
dener and we are apt to be safe
If a variety is exhibited by two or
more gardeners. However, to be on
the safe side one may order single
bulb of each variety desired and
test each in his particular situation.
Long Blooming Period Is Aim.
A further point in selecting daffo-
dis for the home garden should be
a sufficient number of varieties to
provide for . long season Of bloom.
Generally speaking, the trumpets
are the earliest to flower and the
poets are last. Most catalogs will
indicate the season Of bloom for
each variety.
Gardeners are prone to put too
much emphasis on the large snowy
trumpets and to neglect the smaller
and daintier types. While we all
like the large yellow, white and
bicolor trumpet varieties-the trum-
pet or crown is as long or longer
than the perianth segments (petals)
they have a comparatively short
Towering season.
The large crowned leedsii are al
most as snowy as the trumpets
Their trumpets are between a third
and almost equal to the length Of
the perianth segments. The small
crowned leedsii have short trumpets
less than one third the length of
the perianth segments, somewhat
resembling the barrii group but
without the characteristic red COL
oring in the cup.
The Triandrus, Cyclamineus and
Jonquilla hybrids are smaller and
daintier howered varieties that are
well worth growing in the border
and rock garden to give variation
and fragrance, although they are
usually neglected by the home gar
dener. More gardeners will be found
growing the Poetaz (Tazetta), Po-
eticus and double varieties. The
Poetaz are cluster flowered, while |
the Poets are characterized by their
broad fiat perianths and bright red
cups. The double varieties are again
becoming popular, having outlived
the stigma of Won Zion, whose |
greenish color was enough to put
all doubles in disrepute. This re-
action was unjustif1ed for there are
a number of old English double va
rieties which are still worth having.
Twink, relatively new double, has
been widely advertised and is being
grown in many gardens today.
Need Little Attention.
Daffodils are Of easy culture and
once planted in reasonably we'll
drained soil need little attention
for several years. They do need to
be lifted, the soil reworked and
enriche dbefore separating and re-
planting. For some prolific varie-
ties this may be every or years;
for others less prolific it may be
once in 10 years. The soil should
be deeply prepared so that there
will be ample plant food below the
bulbs which are placed from to 10
inches below the surface of the soil
Daffodils are not often troubled
by insects or diseases, and such in
stances as are encountered usually
can be traced back to infested or
infected planting stock. For this
reason too much emphasis cannot
be placed upon buying clean stock
from a reputable grower or dealer.
In poorly drained soils bulbs may
be lost through rotting.
September is the preferred season
for planting daffodils although bulbs
are offered for planting throughout
the fall months. However, they
make considerable root growth in
the fall and early planting is ben
eficial.
The current daffodil classification
and representative varieties of each
class are given as guide in select
ing bulbs for home planting:
/ Trumpet: a. Yellow-King Alfred,
Aerollte. Diotlma. b. White-Mrs. E. H.
krelage. La Vestale. Beersheba. Eskimo
c. Bicolor-Spring Glory. Victoria. Sill
Vanite
2. Incomparabils a. Yellow-Yellow
poppy, Croesus, Red Cross. b. Bicolor-
Bernardino, John Evelyn, Francisco Drake.
3. Barrii: a. Yellow-Alcida. Baths
Flame. b. Bicolor-Firet etail, Nobility, Sun
star.
4 Leedsii: a. Large-crowned-.Lord
house pink. b. Small-crowned-Mrs Net
tie OMelveny, Queen of the North.
8. Triandrus hyhrids: Thalia. Snowbird.
Agnes Harvey.
g.; Cyclamineus hybrds: Beryl, February
Gold March Sunshine.
7. Jonauil hybrids: Golden Sceptre, Lam
arth, Carolina.
8. Tazetta CPoetaz>: Laurens Roster
Klondyke, Admiration.
Q. Poeticus: Homer. Actea. Snow King
10. Double varieties: Twink Cheerful
ness, Irene Copeland
II. Species: N bulbocodium. N. jon
ouilla, n triandrus.