DAFFODIL NOVELTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1932, Page 3

DAFFODIL NOVELTIES

LORE OF STUD BOOK

LONDON, May 18

II you imagine that there are only one or two kinds of daffodils, you should see the great show of the.-e iflowers in the Royal Horticultural Society’s new ihai’.l at Westminster. You will not only dit cover that there ai'e more kinds than you will care to count, but also dozens of varieties which probably will not appear tn von to he daffodils at ell!

In all parts of the kingdnvi expert daffodil farmers have for many years past been ’‘breeding” daffodils with the object of achieving different characteristics.

How patient, they must be may be realised from the fact that it has taken about twenty years to rear ami place on the market bulbs from which some of the flowers to be seen at the show have been grown. A representative of Messrs Bai’r and 'Sons, the growers who produced, more than thirty years ago, the first pure white daffodil, said to a reporter yesterday: ‘‘lt would surprise most people to learn that ‘stud-books’ ai'e kept by growers, and everything relating to the ‘thoroughbreds’ they rear is jenlous'y preserved. One of the proudest achievements of this firm is tie “Tildm®,” a daffodil ot perfect form which looks as if it has been moulded out of purest gold. Among the most striking first-prize winners is the “Bradwardine,” a isingle white - daffodil which measures about five inches in diameter, and luic such a ,solid appearance that it might have been carved out of ivory. The grower is Mr R. F. Calvert, of Qoverack. Cornwall.