Narcissus. For Garden and Home H. M. BIEKART GOLDEN SPUR NARCESM'S, NATURALIZED

Transcription

1 My, 1934 Extension Bulletin 119 Nrcissus For Grden nd Home H. M. BIEKART GOLDEN SPUR NARCESM'S, NATURALIZED EXTENSION SERVICE NEW JERSEY STATE COLEHGE OF AGRICU 1URE A N 1.) AGRICULTURAL EXPFRIMENT STATION RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NI \V BRUNSWICK, N. J. Distributed in furthernce of the Acts of Congress of My 8 nd June SO, 914. Coopertive Extension Work in Agriculture nd Home Economics. H. J. Bker, Director.

2 , r:- i Hi rj o_:.).-: '.=.i l. z 1-^/- t-l,.j==z=;_-;.i J.: ; 7e 't - 7 U) T t + r?) 't - i. ;. 3- _Tl \/, 7q =r' - oc == : :/ NJ,.:,. = - -' '. - --,- - ' = :_= _, = = -.:, - : - - p E o I r-r 3, 9!^l PA 5lJ ot0 tso H o o $ o lrl CONTENTS Nmes 4 Z ID H o Principl Source of Stock 4 Clssifiction 4 E Ft Ih o I o@ o o Description of Types of Nrcissus 5 Trumpet Nrcissus 5 Incomprbilis Nrcissus Brri Nrcissus 7 Leedsi Nrcissus 9 Trindrus Hybrids 9 Cyclmineus Hybrids 10 Jonqu il I Hybrids 10 Tzett Hybrids 11 Nrcissus Poeticus 11 Double NrciSsus 12 Botnicl Species 13 Ordering nd Cre Before Plnting 13 Outdoor Culture 14 Situtions nd Uses 14 Plnting 14 Cre After Plnting 15 Time to Plnt Outside lg Soils nd Fertilizers 1 7 't. -: _1. - Forcing 17 n Io Use s Cut Flowers 17 - Vrieties for Forcing 19 Mesures Preprtory to Forcing 19 Forcing in the Living Room 22 Forcing in the Greenhouse 22 Growing Nrcissus in Sucers or Pebbles 23 Tretment After Flowering 24 Pests 24 Diseses 24 o^i 0? o oz FJ z rj v) Insects 25 + r -r f + + ;J (J.; :i : -t : :rr j_ if l- l 4., s.g i\.i i\i = : Nrcissus For Grden nd Home H. M. Biekrt, Associte in Ornmentl Horticulture "Dffodils tht come before the swllow dres And tke the winds of Mrch with beuty." Shkespere The genus Nrcissus is one of the mot chrming mong the entire rnge of bulbous plnts, nd its populrity is growing rpidly since the development of mny new vrieties which hve incresed the beuty of the genus nd dded to its usefulness. The nrcissus is n exceedingly winsome flower. It hs wide rnge of use nd its grceful beuty, gret vriety of shpe, ese of culture, nd hrdiness hve given it tiost of stunch dmirers. Nrcissus re less excting thn tulips in their soil requirements. They will thrive nd reproduce well where tulips will not grow. When plnted in the grden they will increse in productiveness nd will yield more flowers with ech succeeding yer until the soil becomes depleted. They my need replnting perhps every five to ten yers, nd when this is done the best bulbs of those whioh re dug cn be used. Nrcissus, by virtue of their beuty, ese of culture, nd economy, re lmost indispensble in well-plnned grden. =-;-- r:--1.-,= l: - ':..':1:.;=-=-=.:,:' ; : 1 -*;. = : =.. _. j :=. lt+;l-:=--= --.r.= 1L. -_-. =,.-.- -= - j = =- +, ==' =:==1?-r?='-=-=7:r-,2== -) -_-i =_i' 1=r-i i=- :; ':;=,_;1)'_;:l==i?--= =i'i = 7',.- ='- t ) = =: =.=- ^ = -:_. r:=.-.-r.- -rv=.-=--; - L L _.v. =..^ =:1. =-!-.r. z 1-i..=:-:--.-1: j.-:==l- ; _=? - ^ r.: -, +r-; -=iz 'j i -.:llr r;: --;.==',:r-l-.'^t1.:-, ! i,:;i7:2=---;-;=-=;i?; r-. 1:'-==:1t,'= "-=:-1i I F ',, ===;1;4,, ===-=; =; ='.; = i '- =_+ ;. = =. -:. 1) = -- ) = >='====_.=.2=1=;-=-= = =J:. ='; =; ;. t 7 ; -' -==--==-,===;,y'---. ;=.=.:4i=Z=; )--'':, ;.r?3. =. : -'."-,?',= :i 1 = =,',. Z= i=-..:=7=-='2, -.=. ='-=- = t 1== 1;='='Z'- E f '= f =:1:-.v'L=,==.ii_;.7.:== ; ==7 = ='==, =!:l= 7; - i: A j ; r'. ; The nme "Nrcissus" is derived from the story of the youth, Nrcissus, in Greek mythology, nd in the lnguge of flowers the nrcissus is the symbol of self-love nd egotism. This youth ly down to drink from strem nd when he sw his own imge reflected in the plcid wter he fell so mdly in love with it tht he pined wy nd died., 1 -: =;, =?2 :=--= -7=t- : zfo E ocr) : r- -'t,^==:lr=,17_ -_Tl-_._i=._.;'j:,:.=.g =*! = =--'- --=11=-'=_-?=i= =l i : - =:. = :-, r. -,' ; _ f p ; 7-,.='-=-=-'---'= -==- -!1-1'; -=,ti'-;':,:= :7-: o t-i '.?1, 1':==l-:. - =:2- =.7-1t-: I = = : :. /'- =.=_' 2 = "' L. - = r,=-,=.- =-14;. =i =r,- -. =: ^:: -;;': = = Z b' :=:- T=-';=j1.-t:':+ 1r1=i:-r;7;=t =:= oi i' ; i :i -;, ;=-=-=1=:.,) = t :;=1,.. :L r 1 _.:--.r- :_-' _ -:;- =i =.==''-1.' ^ : =. 2,= Z " === =41 ='-=:1=l=i..': ='=,= = = - = =.'; : i = - - = ': -. -: == - - -' ='=2': i.::- =' l= ; '-. = - -_ ^ ; ^ - I' Even fter his deth, while pssing over the River Styx, he lened over to get look t himself in the wter beneth. The nymphs implored the dryds to rise funerl pile for the purpose of burning his body, but the body ws nowhere to he found. In its plce rose ple nd melncholy flower which even now likes to see its imge in the wter, just s Nrcissus did in the plcid stretn. The Greeks plced the nrcissus upon the coffins of their ded. Sophocles tells us tht the goddesses on Olympus were crowned with nrcissus which bloomed constntly by being kept moist with the dews which fell from heven. Theophrstus Eresius, who lived between 370 nd 285 B. C., described the nrcissus s the flower with the bre stem nd the folige Reprinted with slight revisions from N. J. Exp. St. Circulr 204, published August, I Flj - r. '4 ^ '):1'Z! P.-'-.- - G =6 = ==* _1==:r_'_=,::_=-: -=--;f i=1== i,e = I- ;:. ^- " '' - = + +?t;'=12i.-? :3+ ;,=,,=_11 i=====::='=-: =i;=-17j,.i =.r-. 1 =);=.:=!'.2' =. E;.-: :=,;1:-!';=_i=. :':.? = A - _i :. E

3 4 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN 119 of the Asphodelos. Linneus described seventeen species, nd Hworth, who lived in the nineteenth century, clssified one hundred nd fifty vrieties. Nrcissus pseudonrcissus nd relted species grow nturlly in Centrl Europe, in the Mediterrnen region, nd through Asi to Chin nd Jpn. Probbly twenty-five or thirty species represent the originl stock. The nmes of mny species re in the literture, most of them representing hybrids, for the plnts hve received much ttention from fnciers nd breeders. In the second hlf of the nineteenth century nrcissus society ws formed in Englnd nd the nrcissus ws the exclusive flower t its nnul exhibitions. The Dutch nrcissus society, which ws formed soon fterwrds, chose s one of its principl ims the control of diseses nd insects in order to prevent the distribution of these pests into foreign countries. NAMES he nrcissus commonly is c ed "dffodil," "jonquil," "nrcissus." The nme "nrcissus" my be pplied to l the species, s it is the co rect nme of the genus. The common nme "dffodil" should be pplied only to the sorts wh.c. hve Nrcissus pseudonrcissus s one of the prents. The nme "; nquil" is incorrect s generlly used, s it should pply only to reltives of Nrcissus jonquill, species with smller bulb, smller leves, nd smller but more frgrnt flower thn the trumpet n ci sus. The leves re onion like nd much rker gree thn those of the dffodil. PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF STOCK A lrge portion of the nrcissus sold by seed men nd florists in the United Sttes ws formerly imported directly from he Netherlnds, nnul importtions exceeding two million dollrs in vlue. Since the Federl Horticulturl Bord estblished rntine virtul embrgo ex'sts, nd now it i- with the gretest difficulty tht v rieties cn be imported for propgti n. In ddition to the generl restrictions there hs been imposed qurntine on interstte shipment of nrcissus bulbs, compelling the steriliztion of l bulbs bec use of eelworms nd the two bulb flies. The United Sttes is somewht prepred to meet the demnd for bulbs becuse of the stocks grown during the pst few yers in Cl forni, Oregon, Wshington nd other sttes. It hs been proved tht certin Americn grown vriet'es re just s good s those imported from Eur pe. CLASSIFICATION The Royl Horticulturl Society of Englnd --rnged in 1910 clssifiction of the rci--us into ele en division. o l of the lists n rcissus t ny pretension re now mpil d wii h its recom- NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN A. D HOME 5 mendtions. In this clssifiction the tubulr centr prt of the flower is clled the trumpet, crown, or cup. The perinth segments form the coroll f rot whic the trumpet, crown, or cup r'ses. The following description of types of nrcissus is rrnged ccording t this clssifiction. DESCRIPTION OF TYPES OF NARCISSUS I. Trumpet Nrcissus n the trumpet nrcissus the trumpet or crown is ong s or longer thn the perinth segments. There re three ypes of long trumpets : nmely, yellow, white, nd bicok r. The type is originted from Nroiss s pseudonrcissus. Most of the trumpet nrcissus re vigorous g wer, with brod, bluish-green leves. Some, however, like the N. minimits, re dwrf. The long trumpet nrciss mke ide n teril for grden decortion, cut flowers, nd forcing. Y E A, TRUMPET AND PERIANTH YELLOW. One of the mos populr of this roup, the Golden Spu, ws discovered i 1885 on the privte e: te of the Prince von Wiedt, Wssenr, Hollnd. Henry Irving, nother populr vriety, ws found t Wrrnond, Hol lnd. The lrge number of the new vriet'es hve originted from seed s result of breeding. The well-ki own King A f red, which originted s cross between N. mnills nd nother yellow t impet, hs bec me he prent of very lrge number of v rieties of trumpet nrcissus. The progress during the lst ten yers in obtining better vriet'es through breeding hs been remrkble. Some good vr'ef es re : Glory of Leiden, Vn Wveren's Gint, Emperor, Mjestic, Mon rch, Glory of Hrlem, Apotheose, Golden Rider, Frns Hls. TYPE B, TRUMPET AND PERIANTH WHITE. The number Of vrieties in this group is much smller thn tht in the yellow t umpet becuse of the fct tht Mme. de Grff ws the only vriety of prominence until With the dvent of Mrs. Ernst H. Krelge in 1911 v,lety of very gret merit ws dded to the grou. During the first y _rs the bulbs of tl is vriety retiled for bout $225 ech nd eve now t ey re sold or bout $to p'ece. Some other good vrieties re : Mede, White Knight, Impertor, White Minimus, nd Adelide. Very ttrctive for plnting mong shrubbery or in the lwn re: Goldring, white drooping fib er ; Albicns, white drooping flower ; W. P. Milner, crem color, dwr ; Ldy Somerset, pure white, tll. TYPE C, BICOLOR TRUMPETS. All the vriet'es in this group hve white perinth nd yellow trumpet, x ept few in which the

4 6 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN II9 trumpet is soft pink, but the time my be ner when there will be trumpet nrcissus with n ornge-red trumpet nd white perinth. As in the yellow trumpets, some members of this group were found wild, like the well-known vriety Princeps. It is very importnt group becuse of such vrieties s Empress, Bicolor Victori, nd Horsfieldt, which re grown in gret numbers. Bicolor Victori is NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME 7 n idel forcer, nd Horsfieldt, which is not so esy to grow, is the most beutiful. A few of the best vrieties re: Glory of Noordwijk, Werdle Perfection, Mme. Plemp, Mrs. John Hoog, nd Albertine. Apricot nd Pink Perl re smll but interesting becuse of the pricot color in the trumpet. Good vrieties for forcing re: Phlynee, Spring Glory, Glory of Sssenheim, nd Ros Lynd. II. Incomprbilis Nrcissus Fig. 2 GO DEN SP R T UMPET NARC SS S SPRING GLO Y The incomprbilis or hlfskirt is the first group of these nrci sus which hve trumpet only one-third to one-hlf the length of the perinth. This group is the result of crossings between the trumpet nrcissus nd the poet's nrcissus. There re two subdivisions, e o e with yellow perinth nd those with white perinth. The trumpets of both divisions re yellow ornge, some being lmost red. The incomprbilis vrieties re difficult to surpss for nturliztion purposes. They truly possess dncing, grceful beuty nd will tke the gloom wy from n otherwise somber spot or corner. As cut flowers they deserve herty recommendtion. Some of the be.-t vrieties with yellow perinth re : Glori Mundi, Beuty, C. J. Blckhouse, Croesus, Helios, Ldy Arnott, Lucinius, Liob, Red Cross, nd Golden Frilled. Vrieties with pure white or crem-white perinth re much ore numerous. Some of the best -e : Lucifer, Will Scrlet, Princess Mry, Queen Sophie, Bedouin, Bernrdino, Gret Wrley, Pedestl. Tr Rnee, Imperium, nd Invincible. This lst vriety bers probbly the most imposing flower in the entire nrcissus fmily. It hs pure n I ite perinth nd very brod, yellow trumpet with n ornge edge. III. Brri Nrcissus The Brri group deserves s much populrity s the incomprbilis nd is dpted to the sme purposes. In this group the cup or crown is less thn one-third the length of the perinth segments. There re two subdivizions, those with yellow perinth nd those with white perinth. The follovong re some of the best yellow vrieties : Conspicuus, which is the oldest nd is still very ttrctive, with cler yellow perinth nd short trumpet with brillint ornge-red edge; Firebrnd, which hs sulfur-yellow perinth with, s strong contrst, fiery red trumpet ; Brillincy, which flowers very erly nd is one of the best new vrieties, hving lrge yellow perinth nd cler yellow trumpet with n ornge-red edge; Blood Ornge; nd Coeur de Lion.

5 8 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN 119 N ci SUS FC) GARDEN AND HOME 9 The number of vrieties with whi e perinth is much lrger. Some of the best of the older ones re : Flor Wilson, Murice Vilmorin, Dorothy E. Wemyss, nd Segull. The ltter hs n pricot-pink trumpet. In the newer vrieties of this group re some of surpssing beuty. Among the best re: King George II, with n ornge-edged, light yellow trumpet; Isis, more thn three inches cross; Msterpiece, which hs cler red trumpet; Red Chief, with deep red trumpet; nd Nobility, Expecttion, Bonfire, Grziell, Chrm, Cossck, Sheb, nd Winsome. IV. Leedsi Nrcissus Al the members of h Leedsi group hve white or cre - colored peri-nth, wheres t e c own is ple crem or ple citron, sometimes tinged with pricot or pink. In some vrieties the crown 6i s such dimensions tht the nme "trumpet" would be pproprite. This group is equl in beuty nd nobility of form to the incomprbilis nd Brri types. The Leedsi vrieties re extremely grceful -nd strongly suggest n orchid or lily. All of them hve cre m-wl ite or pure white deiinth. The progress through breeding in thi group hs been stonisling. In Hrlem s mny s twenty I.«(1 i vri ties hve received certifictes of ne it in recent er. The old vrietie hve rther smll nc' -omewh drooping flowers. Some of them, such s Mrs. Lngtry, Ambilis, nd Minni Hume, my still be recommended for nturliztion. A slight drooping is still present in such vrieties s Mrs. Cto Hoog, which hs white tr mpet nd n undulting m" sw-toothed edge, nd Holbein, which is more thn four inches cros nd hs lemon-yellow trumpet. Mount Erebus hs very noble form; Kingdom, Epicure, td Stolberg received certifictes in of e of the best lter introducti ns re : Empire, Clio, Queen of the North, Professor Westerdijk, Her Grce, Lord Kitchener, Ptr. in, White City, il White Emblem. V. Trindrus Hybrids I COMPARABILIS NARC SSU To the trindrus group belong the ybrids o the species N. trindrus, but N. trindrus itself is plced in nother group. They re rther dwrf but sometimes crry lrge flowers w th long trumpets. The trindrtts hybrids include reltively smll number of vrieties. The oldest one, Queen of Spin, originted in Spin where it ws f nd wild. It is rther dwrf grower with butter-yellow flower.

6 10 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIM1NT STATION, Bu. LETIN I19 NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME II The vriety Thli hs pure white flowers nd is, good forcer. Gertrude 's lemon yellow with rther long trumpet. A lrge number of these trindru' hybrids re grown in Englnd, of which the best re : Agnes Hrvey, with white perinth nd pricot-colored trumpet; Mdonn, pure white; Alope, with light yellow perinth; Primrose of the true jonquill nd trumpet nrcissus. Strong bulbs produce four drk yellow flowers o.1 one flower stein. Some of the best vrieties re : N. odorus rugulosus,nximus, deep yellow ; N. odorus gignteus, with lrge yellow flowers on strong stems; N. odorus rugulosus, Ornge Queen, of deep yellow color; Generl Pershing, with perfectly modeled deep yellow flower ; Sweet Nncy nd Golden Sceptre, both of which re bout three inches cross, the former being light yellow, the ltter deep, glossy yellow. VIII. Tzett Hybrids The tzett hybrids re the so-clled bunch-flowered nrcissus or polynthus nrcissus. The numerous forms of N. tzett re extremely vrible but they re ll recognizble by the mny smll crowned flowers nd the brod leves. Sometimes eighteen flowers re bunched on one stem. The well-known pperwhites (N. totus lbus) nd the yellow Grnd Soleil d'or belong to this group. A few good vrieties re: Fig. 4 POETAZ NARCISSUS, ELVIRA Gem, with primrose-yellow color; nd Cinglee, four inches cross nd with soft yellow trumpet. VI. Cyclmineus Hybrids The cyclmineus group is represented only by hybrids. Since the perinth segments re bruptly replced they resemble cyclmen. As fr s the writer knows, tlteit re no N. cyclmineus hybrids offered to the trde. VII. Jonquill Hybrids The jonquill hybrids re typified by very plesing frgrnce nd lmost round, onion-like, drk green folige. From two to four flowers re born on one flower stem. Nrcissus odorus, one of the oldest jonquill hybrids, is found wild in mny plces. It is hybrid Bezelmn Mjor, white with yellow trumpet; Grnd Monrque, white with' lemon-yellow trumpet; Grnd Primo, white; Mestro, white, with n ornge trumpet; White Perl, pure white; Queen of the Netherlnds. white, with pure yellow trumpet; Soleil Brillint, golden yellow with n ornge trumpet. The Chinese Scred Lily, which is n extremely esy forcer, belongs in this group. The poetz vrieties constitute n importnt type of bunchflowered nrcissus. They originted in Hollnd from cross between N. poeticus nd N. Tzett nd they were given nme which is composed of the first letters of the botnicl nmes of both prents. The purpose of this breeding ws to obtin group which would not suffer so much from frost, which would be esier to grow, nd which would be not so strongly frgrnt. The results were ll tht could be desired. The plnts re esier of cultivtion, their frgrnce is not too strong, nd they re hrdy nd just s esily forced. Some of the best vrieties in this poetz group re : Admirtion, lemon yellow with n ornge cup; Albert Vis, white with n ornge cup ; Alsce, white with yellow cup, very populr s forcer; June Merveille, yellow with yellow cup; Ornge Cup; nd Orient. IX. Nrcissus Poeticus The Poet's Nrcissii is be oved throughout the world. It is lso clled "Phesnt's Eye" becuse of the pure, glistening white perinth nd the smll cup with drk red edge. The flowers hve pure

7 2 N.. 4Il "I \I 1: \ I I I.iNT STATION, BULLETIN II9 NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME 13 telmonius plenus). This vriety is n idel forcer nd well dpted to nturliztion. Queen Ann's Dffodil or N. cpx plenus is bout six inches high nd fine subject for the rock grden. N. lbus plenus odortus is the double poeticus, pure white nd gretly resembling grdeni; Ornge Phoenix (Bcon nd Eggs), white with ornge; Primrose Phoenix, pure yellow ; Apricot Phoenix, crem color with pricot pink ; Volcno, soft yellow with brillint ornge; The Perl, crem white, dinty ; Hollnd's Glory, sport of the trumpet nrcissus, Emperor, with cmeli-like flowers. Old vrieties which re still to be recommended re the double jonquils, such s N. odorus plenus, yellow; N. odorus rugulosus plenus, tll, deep yellow; N. jonguill fore pleno, very frgrnt. Dphne is recent English i ttroduction, pure white, sweetly scented, nd closely resembling gr eni. It is n excellent grower nd forcer id hs flower stems fourteen t sixteen inches long. XI. Botnicl Species The botnnicl species contin excellent mtef l for the rock grden, such s Nrcissus bulbocodiwm (Petticot Dffodil) nd its vrieties. They re ntives of southern Frnce, Spin, nd Portugl. The bulbs lwys remin smll. The perinth is not gretly developed, but the cup is lrge nd well spred out. Other species re : N. citrinus, light yellow ; N. clusi, pure white; nd N. conspicuus, golden yellow ; N. trindrus, very ttrctive, with pure white flowers of which three to five droop from one stem; N. clthinus concolor, soft yellow; N. cyckiminens, extremely grceful with strongly recurved petls; N. viridiflorus, the so-clled green nrcissus, difficult to obtin nd more prized for its novelty thn for its beuty. ORDERING AND CARE BEFORE PLANTING F g. 5 POETS NARCISSUS white perintl, n tl eir cup is fl t nd usully yellow with drk red edge. They re of rre beuty, sweetly scented, nd exceedingly. plesing s cut flower in sn ll, slender vse. Ir the l n or mong shrubbery they re delightful. The vrieties in this group differ only in color nd size of cup. Sot e of the best vr'eties re : Orntus, very good forcer; King Edwrd VII, lrge; GI ry of Lisse, n improvement over the Orntus; Cedmon, lrge flower ving cup with drk red edge; Aglvine, with pure red cup; Horce, one of the prettiest with drk red-edged cup; Juliette, very free flowering. X. Double Nrcissus The double nl much dmired by some people, but others do not cre for it. ' lx best known ' the double von Sion (N. For the mteur it is dvisble to buy nrcis us bu bs from relible seed sto, e or grower. Most of hem gldly send upon request, i lustrted ctlogs which will give one good ide bout prices, vrieties to select, nd colors. By compring few ctlogs one my mke very stisfctory selection, but it is still better to see the vrieties growing. It is lwys well to rder erly nd to unpck t e bu bs s soon s they re received, which is usully lte in August or erly 'n September. The bulbs should be crefully spred out to prevent br rising nd kept in dry, well-ventilted nd shded loction unt'l plnted. Nrcissus keep best in rther cool plce good cellr is generlly s tisfctory. While hndling the bulbs one should be creful not to injure the skins, since they f rm protection gins+ excessive evportion. It frequently hppens tht mice, moles, or dogs spoil prt of the imlb beds. This possibility mkes it dvisble to buy few more

8 14 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN 119 NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME 15 bulbs thn one needs. The surplus cn be plnted in smll pots nd plunged into corner of the grden to be used for replnting bre spots lter. OUTDOOR CULTURE Situtions nd Uses On the mrgins of strems or lkes, under fences, beside hedges, mong thin shrubbery, or s colonies in borders, nrcissus re highly ttrctive nd succeed well. Chrming color effects cn be mde by mssing them long drives or wlks with blue grpe hycinth, Scill sibiric, rose nd blue heptics, primroses, nd Myosotis scorpioides. Some nrcissus, such s N. trindrus, N. cyclmineus, nd N. minim us, re peculirly dpted to the rock grden, nd they delight in grvelly soil. N. cyclmincus nd N. clthinus require moist sitution nd cool soil. N. clthinus succeeds best in northern exposure. Very often, nrcissus re plnted under trees, but they will not succeed well in such loction unless they re supplied with moisture nd plnt-food. When nturliztion in the grss is desired, the grss should remin unclipped until the ripening period of the bulbs pproches, which is discernible by the yellowing of the folige. Bulbs re frequently plnted in lwn nd s soon s their flowering period is over, the folige is cut down to the ground. This Seriously impirs the vitlity of the plnts, nd in comprtively few yers they die. It is better to plnt where the grss need not be cut until the tops of the nrcissus re ripe. For nturlizing, one should void plnting in rows or forml designs. A good pln is to sctter the bulbs like seed nd plnt where they fll. Simply remove bit of sod, mke smll hole, three to six inches deep, in the soil, insert the bulb; compct the soil over the top, replce the sod, nd nture will do the rest. If the bulbs re plnted in sheltered corners where they find protection from rough winds, nd re 'shded during the wrmest prt of the dy, the flowers will keep much better. Plnting Authorities differ considerbly s to the depth of plnting. For plnting in the open, the sfest rule to follow is to cover every bulb with twice its own depth of soil. The bulbs vry gretly in size ccording to the vriety, some being less thn one-hlf inch in dimeter. The depth of plnting will vry, therefore, from two to I t six inches ccording to the size of the bulb. The lrger bulbs my be plnted from four to six inches prt, nd the smller ones from three to four inches. At this distnce prt the bulbs will soon completely fill the spces, forming compct mss, nd it is then tht their flowers re produced most freely. It is one of the good fetures in growing nrcissus tht in two or three yers fter plnting they need no further ttention, s they will protect themselves ginst ll encrochment. The bulbs re set with trowel or dibble. One should be creful, especilly when plnting with dibble, tht no ir-spce is left below the bulb. This condition is very likely to occur in lomy soil. The Fig. 6 BULBS OF TRUMPET NARCISSUS DOUBLE NOSE SPLIT, BOTH BLOOMED SPLIT, ONE BLOOMED best remedy is to hve pil of finely pulverized soil or snd t hnd, to be used in filling prt of the dibble hole so the bse of the bulb will rest solidly on the soil. Cre After Plnting At the end of June or erly in July, when the folige is dying nd becomes yellow, the beds my he clened nd plnted with shllow-rooted nnuls such s sters, zinnis, snpdrgons, or other summer flowering plnts tht hve been sown in the spring. By this method the beds re gy with flowers from erly spring until lte in the fll. It is obvious tht where this system is crried out, the plnts would be benefited by coting of mnure pplied to the soil ech fll in order to mintin fertility for the two crops of flowers.

9 6 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, Bu LETIN 119 The bulbs my be left undisturbed from six to ten yers. When the flowers grdully become smller it is well to lift nd replnt them. On this occsion the lrger bulbs my be selected for replnting nd the sm ler ones for incresing the stock. Especilly in n exposed loction it is well during the st w.nter fter plnting to protect nrcissus with l'tter three or four inc es thick of strw, hy, or leves preferbly strw. Hemlock, spruce, or fir boughs re lso excellent mteril. Covering i best done fter the first severe fr st, some time in December or erly Jnury. It will keep the frost in the grout d nd prevent the heving of the soil through ternte freezing nd thwing, which my cuse injury to the roots. The covering should be removed some time in Mrch, the exct ti e depending on locti-n nd wether conditions. The best time is just before the leves come through the litter. It is dvisble o rem ye the itter grdully. This will permit the yellow leves to become green nd hrden grdully. When the entire litter is removed t one time, severe cutting winds or fr st my dmge the tender yellow le yes c nsiderbly. Time to Plnt Outside When grown under norml conditions, nrcissus develop strong root system before ny top growth is mde. Experience hs proved tht strong root system must be developed before the soil becomes frozen, but tht no top growth should hve strted becuse of the possibility of tros, injury. The roots prevent the bulbs from being heved by lternte freezing nd thwing, nd lso cuse immedite growth ctivity when spring rrives. The best time to plnt is between the middle of September nd the middle of October. Erly plnting is to be recommended. Lte plnting, even into lte November, my e d ne, but sometimes t the expense of flower d p'nt. If for some reson the shipment of the nibs hs been delyed until treezing wether, the soil should be prepred nd covered with mulch to prevent freezing. After the plnting is finished nd the bulbs re covered with soil, mulch should be pplied gin in order t permit the bulbs develop oots before the soil underneth the n t lch becomes frozen. This method should be dopted when bulbs re p nted in December. One should not mke the method regulr prctice, however, s the result my prove disppointing. A gret del of the,ccess of producing the lrgest, most perfect, lc richest co ored flower nd folige is due to mximum root NARCI US FOR GARDEN A D Ho E 17 development. Just keep the following in mind: "No roots 1 o flowers; poor roots poor flowers; good o s good flowers." Soils nd Fertilizers Nrci,sus, t nlikc mny of er bullion:, plnts, \yin grow to perfec tion on ny well chined soil, even in 11(iiv.v. cly if there is not too much limo present. "Hie ddition of some bnd, shes, or grvel to such soil type, howm. er, will mke for still Bette-r results. A very poor nd sndy soil wi 1 be eonsid(-rbl intpri)vt d the ddition of some well-rotted mnure. In the pt, the ide previled tl t r cissn neither needed nor responded to fertilizers. At present light to medium ppliction of well-rotted mnure or le. mod is con- -Wet ed beneficil on the mjority of our soil, for ll vrieties, with the possible exception of Golden spur nd Double Non Sion, which re very sensitive to mnure. The mnure or lef-mold should be spded in nd thoroughly incorported i the soil in the pring previous to the plnting. If this is not prcticble, it my done just before plnting. On most soils bone mel will give beneficil resuln. This fertilizer - My be considered the best for ll bulbous stock. It should be worked into the upper two or three inches of topsoil fter the plnting hs been done. An ppliction of!/, pound to 25 squre feet will furnish enough phosphoric cid nd nitrogen. It is impo-sible, however, to stte definite t iount of nturl or rtifici c i ilizer to use, becuse of the gret vrition in texture -id fertility of soil types. The iil should be well suppled with wter during the growing seson but s this se so comes in April nd M y, nture usully provide: it generously. FORCING Use s Cut Flowers Becu e of t ei gi ( till ppernce nd beutiful co or b ending, nrcissus re exceedingly useft 1 fo cut flowers. A smll vse with two or t..ree flowers loo e y rrnged, witl. t left own folige for greens, mkes bright, ttrctive spot in ny room. The best results re obtined when the flowers re cut while still in bud or just beginning to open. It is by this method tht they retin their wrm, brill't t colors, which often fde if the flowers re cut whet fully open. Like ll other flowers, nrcissus should be cut erly in the morning or on dull dy. Commercilly, nrcissus bulbs re forced by the million,, mostly for cut flowers. Nrcissus totus lbus, or pperwhite nrcissus, espe cilly, hs been indispensble modertely priced flowei in minerl

10 IS N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN 119 NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME 19 FIG. 7 NARCISSUS POLYANTHUS GRAND SOLEIL D'OR work. Other vrieties such s Grnd So eil d'or, the erliest yellow, re used in lrge numbers n,mid Christms time. The trumpet nrcissus lso form idel mteri l for cut flowers nd re gret fvorites round Ester. Vrieties for Forcing For erliest forcing the best vrieties re Nrcissus lotus lbus (pperwhite), the yellow Grnd Soleil d'or, N. clusi, N. tzett oricullis (Chinese Scred Lily), N. obvllris, Trumpet Mjor, ;olden Spur, Henry Irving, Cervntes. The first two re esily hrought into flower for Christms nd the others follow in close succession..\ little lter re the lrge trumpet vrieties, such s Princeps, King Alfred, Tresserve, N. odorus gignteus, Glory of Sssenheim, Erly Beuty, Ros Lynd, Glory of Leiden, Vn Wveren's Gint, Bicolor Victori, Emperor, Empress, Mjestic, nd N. von Sion (double dffodil). The medium nd short trumpet, such s Leedsi White Ldy (with pure white perinth, yellow cups) ; Leedsi Mrs. Lngtry; nd Duchess 0 Westminster, re excellent. Tlie incomprbilis vriety, Sir Wtkins, nd lso Nrcissus jonquill, prticulrly the vrieties N. jnquill rugulosus nd N. rugulosus pleno, re very desirble. The ltter hve ; inll sweet-scented flowers in clusters. Mesures Preprtory to Forcing Nrcissus re forced in pots, pw, bowls, or boxes. When the flowers re intended for use in the room the first three receptcles re most desirble. When the florist intends to use nrcissus for cut flowers, he grows lrge prt of his crop in boxes becuse they fford economy in hndling s well s in spce. For forcing, only first-clss bulbs should be used nd if possible the double-nose type, which will give two flower stems to the bulb, should be bought. If, for ny reson, the bulbs cnnot be potted immediie'y, they should be treted s mentioned under "Ordering nd Cre Before plnting," but it should be kept in mind tht erly potting in lte August nd September is lwys dvisble. It is well to use rther rich compost. A good mixture is formed by the use of three-fourths good grden soil with one-fourth lef mold or well decomposed stble mnure. When the grden sol is rther hevy liberl ddition of snd will prove beneficil s it it

11 20 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, Bu L TIN 119 erte the compost t 1.provide for dringe. Be sure,.however, not to use soil from compost pile 'n which residues from bulbs of the previous yer hve been mixed ; if such soil is sed insect pests nd disese my be the result. When the soil is prepred one show sel et the proper receptcles Some of the smller types.my be forced successfully 4.inch pots, / DOUBLE NARCISSUS NARCISSUS TELAMONIUS MENUS NARCISS S FOR GARD N AND Ho E 21 but the lrge mjority require 6-inch or 8-inch pot or pn. Pns re shllow pots, therefore less bulky, nd considered fr m the stndpoint f beuty, re the more desirble receptcles for nrcissus. The pns or pots should be well provided with grvel, cinders, or broken crocks for dringe, nd filled bout three-fourths fu I with the compost. When plcing the bulbs on top of this soil one need not leve more thn one-fourth or one-hlf inch of spce etween them. Five to ten bulbs my be plced i ech pot ccording to the size of the bulbs nd of the pot. The tips of the bulbs should be bout onehlf to one inch below the upper edge of the pot. Soil s Id be crefully plced between the bulbs nd firmly pressed, leving one fourth to one-hlf inch of spce between the soil evel nd the rim of the pot for wtering. After this is done, the pots should be plced out ide in coldfrme or shllow pit, preferbly in somewht hded plce, which should be well drined t reduce t e possibility of rotting of the bulbs. Proper lbelling is dvisble when sever vrlet' es re used. For th's purpose, stkes mde of I inch by 2 inch mteril re very g od. They should extend t est foot bove the pots. t the top of ech, lbel should be t c ed on which the vriety nme nd the dte of pnting re written. After t orough wtering, the pots must be covered w.th five or six inches of clen soil or cinders. The o ject of this c vering is o pre ent drying o t, nd to mintin uniform nd rther low temperture round the bulbs to encourge strong root growth. If there is dnger from severe frosts it is well to cover tl e soil with strw or leves or to use ssh with s rw m t covering. This will prevent deep freezing nd enble one to remove the pots in mid-winter without difficulty. Mny pots hve been broken nd bulbs injured s result of overlooking this sfety mesure. When lrge quntity of bulbs re to be forced on commercil scle, it is becoming more generl prctice to provide bulb cellr. This my be prt of the existing cellr or my be specilly constructed. Along the sides, rcks nd shelves re plced, upon which the flts or pots my be set. A few stem or hot wter pipes my be instlled to mintin the temperture round 35 to 4o degrees. By the use of bulb cellr, supnly is lwys vilble for forcing regrdless of the outside conditions. Mny urbn people hve no grden or bck yrd. They my plce the pots in drk closet in temperture not exceeding 55 to 60 degrees Fhr. If no closet is vilble, ne my be mde of n old box or, if there is cellr, plce my be pr vided there for the pots. Under such conditions moisture, which 's e senti t ll times, must be supplied by regulr w er'n.

12 2 N.. AOR CU TU AL EXPERIMENT S ATION, By L TIN II NA CIRRUS FOR GARDEN AND HOM 23 Before removin the plnts to the plce where they will flower i is impertive tht they be well rooted. This cn be determined by inverting the po nd tpping the rim gently upon some firm object. When the soil is moist the bll of erth will come out intct. The bulbs re sufficiently rooted when the outside of the bll is well ttted with roots. After the exmintion, the pot is crefully replced nd the pot is turned over to its norml position. At this stge of development the plnts lve usully produced two r three inches of top growth. The time hs thei rrived to give them full dylight in the living room o pr illy sht et plce 'n the g eenhouse. Forcing in the Living Room For forcing nrcissus in the living room, the to 1perture my v ry rom bout 40 to 75 degrees Fhr. The best results re obtined t unif rt temperture. If grown in cool plce the lnts wilt remin rtl er stocky nd the blooms will develop slowly nd hve gret keepin7 qulity. When the plnts re grown in wrm plce they wil grow rther tll, nd the flowers wi'l rech mturity much sooner. The keeping qulity, however, will be somewl t impired, becuse the flowers lck substnce. A temperture rnging between 5o nd 65 degrees Fhr. is probbly best. This temperture is sufficient to bring the plnts Onto flower in five to eight weeks, dependi g lrgely upon the vrieties nd the seson o the yer. Knowing this, one is enbled to bring the pots into the forcing room t the proper time. To prevent the flower buds from shrivelling, neither the soil in the recept des nor the tmosphere shou d be llowed to become dry. Bulbs which hve been potte in September will he wel rooted by the middle of November, t which time some of the erliest nrcissus my be plced in the forcing room. By bringing in few ech week, continuous disply of flowers my be hd from lte December until Ester. Forcing in the Greenhouse The mteur or commercil grower who possesses greenhouse in which he intends to force bulbs, usully desires to hve his bulbs bloom t certin time, either for the purpose of hving continuous disply or to be ble to sell them t given dte. For this type of mteur nd for the commercil grower the so-clled "Dutch bulb chin" deserves recommendtion. In this chin re six links, s follows:. the outside qurters ; b. crntion temperture (5o degrees Fhr., t night) ; c. hot or swet box; d. crntion temperture; e. bsement; f. store or disply counter. In order to hve continuous disply or to hve certin number of flts or pots redy for sle t given time, the commercil grower needs lmost complete control over the forcing conditions. This control is mde possible by the use of the hot box, which is usully underneth n enclosed section of bench, nd where by mens of stem or hot wter pipes temperture from 70 to ioo degrees Fhr. my be mintined. This box is kept moist nd drk. This condition, in ddition to the gret het, drws the plnts up very rpidly. They my remin in the box until the buds show color. It is obvious tht by either rising or lowering the temperture in this box one cn retrd or hsten the development considerbly. If the hot box is pitch-drk nd the temperture is very high the folige is likely to become yellowish green nd soft. When the plnts re removed to the cool greenhouse they should be kept well shded for few dys until they regin deeper green. nd more vigor. A constnt light shde over the plnts will mke the flowers lst longer. It is dvisble to use the bulb chin s follows: Tke desired number of pots or flts from link, the outside qurters, nd move to link b, the cool greenhouse; in two or three dys they my be removed to c, the hot box, nd remin there until they re tll enough; from here they re tken to link d, the cool house, in order to hrden them slowly; nd, if designed for greenhouse disply, they my remin there. If the flowe s re intended for sle it is good policy to remove them to e, the b sement, where they will hrden still more, to wit the demnd t f, the retil counter or store. Un ess ech link of this chin is filled, stedy supply which is t e o ly wy to mke profit from the bulbs cnnot be relied upon. I, generlly speking, not wise to bring in mny t time, becuse t demnd must often be cultivted. However, few good specimens ill usully crete demnd for them. If the grower is not prticulr bout hving the plnts bloom t certin time, he my curt; it this bulb chin to two links, the outside qurters nd the cool or temperte greenhouse. A night temperture between 45 nd 55 degrees Fhr. will give excellent results. Since Ester sometimes c es lter thn the nturl flowering time of the bulbs, it my become ecessry to retrd the growth s much s possible. It is not dvisble to leve the plnts in the outside qurters ny lter thn the lst week in Mrch. If they re kept there much longer, the shoots will become so tll tht the plnts cnnot he removed without cusing considerble injury to the folige nd the flower stems. If Ester comes lte, the best pln is to remove the stock directly from the outside qurters to light, cool bsement. If Ester comes erly in April the plnts should be tken u ) erly in Mrch nd plced in cool, shded greenhouse. The plnts should be removed from the outside qurters three to four weeks before flowering. Folige which hs developed under the soil is blnched nd quite yellow. It requires bout week of dylight before this folige tkes on its nturl green color nd cquires vigor. Growing Nrcissus in Sucers on Pebbles The Ch. nese nrcissus, lso clled Chinese Scred Lily, (Nrcissus tzett orientlis) ; the pperwhite nrcissus (Nrciss s totus lbus); the N. tzett vriety Grnd Monr e, re especi ly dpted to growing in sucers on pebbles. Forcing nrcissus in sucers or owls pretty Chinese bowl is very decortive nd enhnces the beuty f the nrcissus is done in the following mnner. A lyer of pebbles or broken crocks is put in the bottom nd on this re plced s mny bulbs s the bowl will

13 4 N. J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, BULLETIN 119 NARCISSUS FOR GARDEN AND HOME 5 hold. fter this the spce be w en the bulbs is fi'led with the sme mteril to keep them in position, nd wter is poured on the bulbs intil they e hlf s bmerged. The bowl should then be removed to cool r om nd left there for two weeki. As s on s growth becomes oticeble, the bowl my be plced in the living room. From this time on, o e my dmire the dily rpid development of the p its. Tretment After Flowering f hrdy vrieties h e been gently forced, the following mesures should be tken when it is desired to use the bulbs i the grden. Afte flowering is over, wter should be grdully withheld. The plnt-food present in the folige will then slowly be trnsferred to the bulbs. In three or four weeks the folige will hve withered nd the bulbs should be tken out of the pots nd stored just were the bulbs which were newly received in the fll, tht is, in cool, dry, s ded, iry plce. If plnted in the fll, these bulbs will disply ome owers the ollowing spring nd will bloom profusely in the second yer fte forcing. They will continue to flower for yers if the conditi n re right. PESTS Although the verge mteur seld m hs bulbs which re ffected by insects or disese it my be well to stte briefly the nture of these pests nd how to control them. Where nrcissus re grown intensively, s in Englnd, Hollnd, Frnce, nd ner Tcom, Wshington, the pes s beco e ye y troublesome! Diseses NARCISSUS MO.,,LIC OR GRAY DISEASE. This is virus disese of t e mos.c type. It occurs i ll the mjor species but is much more plent' fu in some vrieties n in others. Sir Wtkin, Princeps, Cervntes, Werdle Perfection, nd few others re otbly susceptible. No stisfctory expln 'on hs been given of the prevlence of the disese in some vrieties nd the comprtive bsence in others. All prts of the plnts re ffected, but it is principlly 'ndicted by n uneven distribution f the green coloring mtter in th fo 'ge, cusing streked ppernce nd lso by streking of the flowers. The plnts lso show decided lck of vigor. The virus ffects the size nd yield rther thn he shpe o' the bulbs. The yield of mosic stock verges less thn 75 per ce t of tht of helthy stock. As yet o defini e control mesures hve been found but creful roguing of the stock s soon s the symptoms become evident, especilly just before nd during the flowering period, is considered the best control mesure. However, stocks which re entirely free from this disse re seldom seen. BASAL Ro. The disese is cused by so] inhbiting Fusurium nd ws given this nme becu e the decy usully begins in the root plte or t the bse of the sc es nd from there spreds through the inside of the bulb, showing generlly preference for the centrl portion. In prtly esistnt vrieties, such s Sir Wtkin, the decy tends to dvnce in streks nd lyers, with helthy tissue intervening. The rotted tissue hs chrcteristic chocolte brown or purplish brown color, nd it remins somewht dry nd spongy. There is usully no slimy brekdown n often there is little externl evidence of the disese unti' it is dvnced sufficiently to be recognized by the softened texture of the bulb. For this reson, it is difficult to eliminte ll i fected bulbs even by repeted sorting in the ordinry wy. With smll numbers of vluble bulbs, it my be dvisble to remove the dry outer scles, nd exmine the fleshy scles underneth or initil decy. It usully occurs during storge but in wrm sectio s it my develop in the field. The orgnism cusing bsl rot my live for n indefinite time on plnt residues. If the bulbs mture in temperture of bout 6o degrees Fhr., the roots nd bulbs remin helthy. A soil temperture of 75 to 8o degrees Fhr. is very conducive to the rpid spred of the disese. It is for this reson tht there is more bsl rot in the plntings long the Atl is Cost thn in he Pcific No.thwest. This disese ffects principlly the lrge trumpet nrcissus. The Jonquil nd Poetz types re very resistnt, while the Polynthus vrieties re pr: c 'cl y immune. There is no defin'te con rol. The growers should fo low the best methods of prepring the soil, correct plnting, digging t the proper stge of mturity nd hndling the bulbs so tht they re not bruised. Storge conditi ns should be such tht the bulbs re kept dry, cool, nd well ventilted. Even with these precutions, grower my lose mny bulbs from bs rot.

14 6 N. J. AGRICUL URAL EXP RIMENT STATION, B LLET N I 9 Insects GREATER NARCISSUS FLY. The greter nrcissus fly (Merodon equestris) is the best-known pest of nrcissus. The dult fly deposits the eggs between the eves nd the lrv when htched penetrtes the bulb. The i sect cn be detected lte in the fll by the "feel" of the bulb, since infested bulbs re soft nd lighter in weight thn helthy ones. The lrv there is usully but one in ech bulb consumes prcticlly the entire inside of the bulb. 'When full grown the lrv is one-hlf inch in ength nd bout one-qurter inch in dimeter. The lrv will sometimes be f reed out t the neck when the bulb is squeezed between thumb nd forefinger. The most pproved Dutch method to erdicte the fly is known s the "hot-wter tretment." For this purpose tnk heted by stem or hot wter is used. Suspended within this is nother tnk in which the bulbs re plced for tretment. A constnt temperture of i io degrees Fhr. for I% to 5 hours is mintined in the inner tnk. The durtion of the tretment depends upon the size of the bulbs. In Hollnd ll growers "cook" their nrcissus in order to mke s e tht pests will not be exported or remin in their stock. Amteurs will do well to exmine the bulbs crefully upon receipt,..d if the bulbs re somewht soft, hole will probbly be detected on the edge where the roots will lter develop. 'When this is the cse, the bulbs should be submerged in wter for twenty-four hours, during which period the mjority of t le lrve will leve their temporry dwelling. A still sfer method is the destruction of the infested bulbs. If bulbs develop poorly or fil completely in the spring, they should be dug nd destroyed. At th's time few dys spent in serching the beds will py big dividends. As the lrv leves the bulb for the ground shortly fter the p l is come up, the period for doing this work is very short. EELWORMS. The eelworm or nemtode (Tylenchus dipsci) is min_y of commercil importnce. It is microscopic in size nd mkes chnnels through the bulb ce ls, by mens of which it will eventully destroy the bulb. The best remedy is the hot-wter tretment s described for the nrcissus fly. The exct temperture is of the gretest importnce. A temperture too low will leve the eelworm live nd temperture too high will kill the bulbs. NARCISS S r R GARDEN AND HO E 27 most cses, the cuse of wek decying bulbs t digging time in the lte spring. It is smll, yellowish-white mggot, trifle lrger thn tht of the ordinry house fly. Severl my be found in one bulb. The insect probbly thrives only on non-living vegettion nd is n t ble to penetrte living tissue. BULBMITE. The b 1 mite (Rhizoglyphus hycinths) is visible only with the id of lens. It ttcks nrcissus, tulips, hycinths, crocus, lilies, mryllis, orcl ids, nd dhli, nd is present in vrying numbers in bulbs from ll c tries. t is yellowish white, nd mles nd fem es re similr in ppernce. The norml life cycle require bout one month. The minute eggs re lid singly on the surfce of the bulb. The eggs *c by the individul vry in number from fifty to hundred nd htch in from four to seven clys. The mites burrow into the bulb, where they increse rpidly nd feed on the bulb scles or root tissue, cusing reddish-brown spots. The injury cused by the mites leves scrs, which form idel rboring plces for fungi, bcteri, nd soil prsites, suc s millipeds nd nemtodes. When hevily infested bulbs re plnted, he new leves tut ii yellow, the growth. is checked, nd the flowers my fil to develop. Although the mi,es re cpble of living in disesed bulbs, 111(17. is touch evidence to indicte tht they prefer sound ones. As t 11(:, infesttion develops, the bulbs become soft nd the mites migr e 1it-lthy bulbs, which in turn soor strt to rot. The mites enter the bulbs before they re dug. Infested bulbs deteriorte rpidly in storge under conditions fvorble for the mites. High humidity nd temperture of 6o to 8o degrees Fhr. fvor their development, but low humidity nd temperture of 5o to 55 degrees cuse them to become torpid. Any dely during trnsrorttion my permit these mites t cuse rot in reltively lrge percentge of the bulbs. To control the bulbmite, burn ll soft nd rotted bulbs. Soil criliztion is necessry if helthy bulbs re plnted where infested onus hve l_;rown. The bulbs my be immersed or 10 minutes in 2 per cent formldehyde solution heted to 1.22 degrees Fhr., or for 3() tninute in wter t 122 to 124 degrees. These methods kill the!rites nd do not injure the bulb unless root growth hs strted. Vinnrt will be killed by the tretment. LESSER NARCISSUS FLY. The lesser nrcissus fly (Eumeris strigtus) is just s troublesome s the eelworm nd lso usully succumbl, to tint hot-wter tretment. The lrv,,r this insect is, in