Evening star., 1960-08-21
BY BILL YOUNGMAN
Star Garden Editor

This seems hardly the season
to be thinking about the DAFT
fodils blooming in our gardens
next spring, but it should be!
We should be ordering our
bulbs now for September plant
ing. Daffodils make extensive
root growth in the fall and
early planting is important to
their growth, Moreover, late
planting delays spring flower
ing.
OF the thousands of daffodil
(narcisSus) varieties to choose
from the Washington gardener
might will take advantage Of
the assistance and guidance of
the Washington Daffodil So
ciety. However, it is interest
ing to note that even that ag-
gressive group cannot fully
agree on a short list of varie-
ties for the home gardener.
The society distributed a
mimeographed list of recon-
mended varieties. Willis Whee-
ler, the president. when talk
ing to the U. S. D. A. Garden
Club added a few varietal
names to the list. This is a
perfectly normal reaction be-
cause every gardener has his
preferred varieties which he
would like to see listed. Also,
most Of us have our biases be-
cause of some unfortunate re-
suit with this or that variety.
That is why you will always
find someone who wants to add
to or delete from any such
lists. This is no criticism of
Mr.. Wheeler. Because of his
experience in daffodil growing
and breeding. we value lis
suggestions very highly.
With the constant procession
of new varieties being placed
on the market the inexperi-
enced needs guidance if he or
she is to have worthwhile re-
suits in the garden. The COM
mercial lists, if any variety
description is given, are filled
with superlatives that only
confuse the beginner. That is
why the recommendations Of
the local plant societies are so
valuable. The list is as follows
with Mr.. Wheelers' additions
in bold face:
LAD Yellow self, Dawson City,
Obj White and yellow: President
LeBrun, Effective, Patria. Trousseau,
Cie1 white self: Beersheba. Tain.
Mount Hood Silver Wedding, BrouEh-
t2a) Yellow self: Carlton. st. Egwin
Yellow and red or orange: Aranjuez.
Fortune, Tinker. Gardiner. RuStom
12bj White and yellow: Polindra.
Brunswick. Guardian, FestivIty. Tunis,
Green Island. White and red or orange
Selma Lagerlof, Red Abbott White and
pink: Cannes Mrs. Baekhouse. Mabel
Busie, Templemore. Zero. Binkie.
Small CUPS
3aD yellow and red or orange: Man
g9Steen. Market Merry. Therm, Chung
Obj White and yellow; Sylvia
GRANGE: Blarney. Limerick. Kansas,
i5cj White self: Polar Ice. Portrush,
FriEid, Cushlake.
Doubles
90 yellow: Inglescombe Yellow
Cheertulness. Golden Ducat White:
Cheerfulness' Shirley Temple, Daphne.
Triandrus HybridS
t5a) Large cups: Thalia, Acolyte,
(5b) Small cups: Silver Chimes.
-Cyclamineus Hybrids
,6a) Large cups; February Gold.
(6b) Small cups: Beryl.
Jonauilla Hybrids
tIa) Large cups: Aurelia
Obj Small cups: Golden Perfection.
Treyithian. Cherie PoetaS,
tSI Martha Washington, Geranium,
La F1ancee.
POeticus
90 Actaea' Red Rim. Cantabile.
| Species
| =, lO) Jonquilla simplex. triandrus
albuS (Angels Tears).
Quoting from the letter.
1T is easy to succeed with
daffodils. if strong, healthy
bulbs are purchased. the proper
environment is selected, and
thought is given to the growth
cycle of the plant.
The bulb (Which already
contains next seasons leaves
and flower will start making
roots with the first fall rains
and so should be planted as
plants. roses. mammoth ferns