New daffodils suitable for market growers / Marsh Farm ; F. A. Secrett.

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

Successes at

VINCENT SQUARE, 1928.

March 27th.

SILVER MEDAL for a Group of
Daffodils.

April 1 1th.

SILVER GILT MEDAL for a Group
of Daffodils.

AWARD OF MERIT for Narcissus
“ Wide Wing.”

AWARD OF MERIT for Narcissus
” J. K. Ramsbottom.”

Daffodil Show, April 17th.

GOLD MEDAL for Exhibit.

AWARD OF MERIT for Narcissus
‘‘ Red Rim. ”

AWARD OF MERIT for Narcissus
“ Narrabri.”

FIRST PRIZE, 9 Poeticus Varieties,
3 stems of each.

FIRST PRIZE, 6 Varieties not in
Commerce.

FOREWORD.

WHEN preparing this Catalogue of Poeticus Narcissi, it
suggested itself that an introductory account of the pioneer
work of the Rev. G. H. Engleheart would be appropriate.

The old herbalists distinguished different species of the poet s
daffodil and one of the earliest of them was the famous John Gerard who
in his Herbal of 1597 described four single-flowered forms. Thus the
history of the cultivation of these attractive flowers in England goes back
more than three hundred years and it is beyond dispute that more
attention has been paid to them in this country than in any other. We
are accustomed to consider the Rose as a typical English plant : with at
least as much justification we can lay claim to the daffodil and more
particularly the forms spoken of as “ poets.”

The fact of their long cultivation makes the identification of the
natural forms one of extreme difficulty. The work of Curtis, Salisbury,
Hawarth, Herbert, Barr and Pugsley on this problem extending well over
a century, is a further proof of our especial and continued national interest
in every aspect of the classical flower.

Narcissus poeticus Linn, which Gerard called the “Timely purple
ringed Daffodill ” and Parkinson the “ Early purple ringed Daffodill,” a
native of the South of France, Italy and the Pyrenees is known to have
been cultivated in gardens continuously for over three centuries. During
the last fifty years or so it has become scarce owing to being greatly super¬
seded by what is generally known as “ Poeticus ornatus ” ( Narcissus
exertus var. ornatus). The account of the introduction of this flower
and its success as a market variety as given by the growers of the early
eighties of the last century is almost worthy of being called romantic.
In this connection it is perhaps not generally known that the first box of
this flower sent to Co vent Garden came from Marsh Farm, Twickenham.
No one has played a greater part in the horticultural improvement of
Poets nor shown such continued interest as the Rev. G. H. Engleheart.
He has been kind enough to write me the following summary of his work.

Foreword cont.

“ Soon after I interested myself in Daffodils and in the raising of
new varieties — in the 1880!s — I began to concentrate more or less on the
Narcissus poeticus group in particular. No one, I think, before myself,
had attempted the improvement of this section of Narcissus by crossing
and from seed. The forms known to botanists and grown in gardens were
all collected wild. Mr. Peter Barr in 1885 catalogued eight species,
namely augustifolius, ornatus, grandiflorus, poetarum, “ poeticus of
Linnaeus" recurvus, majalis and stellaris. Of these the May flowering
recurvus was the most generally grown. Ornatus now so widely known,
was then a comparatively recent introduction from France, through
Messrs. Vilmorin of Paris : it is of doubtful origin, but is probably a native
of the Xarbonne district or the region of the Auvergnes. The so-called
“poeticus of Linnaeus " or “poeticus verus ” ( Narcissus hellenicus), a
small but shapely and solid flower is indigenous in Greece. In my work
I used these and any forms I could obtain from elsewhere. My first
useful seedlings were a batch raised from ornatus by pollen of the red-
crowned poetarum.

This contained the now widely distributed “ Horace," with “ Virgil ’’
and several others. “ Cassandra" was one of my earliest flowers. The
red colouring came from poetarum, also from red-eyed flowers given to me
by the late Air. James Allen of Shepton Mallet, who made selections from
the abundant wild poeticus of the Pyrenees. The intercrossing of my own
flowers over some thirty- five years has produced a long chain of “ poets ”
in gradations of form, colour and season of flowering.

Of all the Narcissi, the poeticus group is, generally speaking, the most
vigorous and prolific, and from its refinement of form and colour, fragrance,
rapidity of increase, facility of bunching and packing for Market work,
must surely find favour more and more.”

In the year 1914 I took over Air. W. Poupart’s interest in this farm
and with it about five acres of Daffodils. As my appreciation and love
for the flowers increased I began buying new varieties ; the refinement
and artistic qualities of the Poets arrested my attention and I was in this
way brought into close touch with the Rev. G. H. Engleheart.

Page 2.

Foreword cont.

In the year 1922 I purchased from him “Red Rim” and “Wide
Wing ” ; the next year I purchased “ Narrabri,” “ Mandarin,” “ Papyrus ”
and “ Winnie Weedon ” ; the following year I made an arrangement to
take over the majority of his stocks. Thus the farm from which the first
box of “ Poeticus Ornatus ” was marketed by Mr. W. Poupart, by a
curious chain of coincidences, has become the home of the Engleheart
collection. After many years of growing Daffodils and by the keeping of
careful records I have come to the conclusion that of all Narcissi the Poets
are the most remunerative commercial varieties to grow for the following
reasons : —

(1) . Length of season.

(2) . Freedom of flowering.

(3) . Rapidity of increase.

(4) . Low cost of transit, owing to number of bunches that can

be packed in a box.

(5) . Popularity with the public.

The ordinary “ Poeticus Ornatus ” as a market flower is nearly
finished, as the stocks all over the country have deteriorated and must
soon be superseded by new varieties. I have every confidence in
recommending those mentioned in the catalogue as suitable for market
work. Of their worth as market stocks there can be no doubt, as in the
present season (1928) “Red Rim,” “Wide Wing,” “Narrabri” and
“ J. K. Ramsbottom ” have been given awards of merit at the Royal
Horticultural Society’s fortnightly shows.

The firmness of petal and lasting quality of some of these varieties
is especially emphasised in such a flower as “Papyrus” (A.M.,
R.H.S.) which when cut remains in condition well over a week.

F. A. SEC RETT,

MARSH FARM, TWICKENHAM,

MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

TELEPHONE: POPESGROVE 1424.

Page 3.

RED RIM.

F.C.C., R.H.S. 1926, as a variety for market. A.M., R.H.S., 1928,
as a variety for cutting. A splendid Poeticus variety, having a pure white
perianth of good round shape and a broad flat corona of green and yellow
with a definite bright red margin. Flowers at the same time as Poeticus
Ornatus. Price 1 0 - per bulb.

Page 4

HUON.

A remarkable Poet, very round, early ; eye comes red and then
rimmed; will stand sun and rim does not spoil beauty. Is a week earlier
in flowering than Poeticus Ornatus. Price 10 - per bulb.

NARRABRI.

A.M., R.H.S. 1928. A beautiful market flower. Has a round
perianth with pointed petals. A perfect green-eyed Poet, with a margin
of red. Flowers 10 days later than Poeticus Ornatus.

Price 7 6 per bulb.

WINNIE WEEDON.

A very free flowering Poet; flowers at the same time as Narrabri.
Is a splendid increaser and a variety very suitable for market work.

Price 5 - per bulb.

FORESAIL.

A late market Poet; blooms a week before Recurvus. Is a good
doer, very florescent. A round flower, yellow and green eye margined
with crimson, borne on a stem 20 inches long. Price 10 per bulb .

Page 5.

DINTON RED.

A.M., R.H.S., 1923. This variety obtained its Award as a show
flower. It has a pure white perianth, with a large deep crimson corona.
Flowers a week later than Poeticus Ornatus. Price 10/- Per bulb.

Page 6.

IAN SECRETT.

Hybrid Poet, fine petals, yellow eye edged orange.

Price 2 6 per bulb .

HERSHAM GLORY.

Long recurved ample petals, striking large dark eye, broad dark
red rim shading to cadium and green inside. Price 7 /6 per bulb.

SCARLET FRINGE.

Poet resembling Red Rim ; not quite so big ; abundant fine level
bloom, very free. Price 10/- per bulb.

SCARLET CORD.

Beautiful Poet, round and white. Eye broad and nearly all orange-
red shaded to bright red edge, green centre. Price 10 - per bulb.

Page 7.

WIDE WING.

A.M., R.H.S. 1928. The perianth of this Poeticus variety is paper-
white and its pale yellow corona is suffused with green and has a narrow
but well defined margin of scarlet. It is a splendid forcer. The same
season of flowering as Poeticus Ornatus. Price 10 - per bulb.

PAPYRUS.

A.M., R.H.S. 1926, as a market variety. A fine late Poeticus with
a circular perianth of pure white and well coloured eye. The petals have
a texture resembling parchment. Flowers three weeks later than Poeticus
Ornatus. Price £3 per bulb.

Page 8

Page 9

NAOMI.

A bright red-cupped incomp. Two bulbs to offer.

Price £10 per bulb.

MAINSAIL.

A.M., R.H.S. 1923. Very large late Poet, extra fine broad flat eye,
gamboge green in colour, maroon ribbon. Price 10/- per bulb.

SONATA

A late Poet suitable for market work.

Price £20 per 1,000.

MANDARIN.

A late Poet, not large but very pretty. Whitish perianth, crimson
eye. Good market flower.

Price 7 6 per bulb.

ROSELLA.

Best hybrid Poet. Very white perianth, large broad yellow eye,
brilliant orange ribbon. Quality supreme.

Price 10/ - per bulb.

SOUTHERN CROSS.

A fine incomp, with blood-red cup. Pure white perianth.

Price £20 per bulb.

Page 10.

Page 1 1 .

ALFRED HARTLEY.

Large golden trumpet.

Price £2 per bulb .

PRINCESS MIRIAM.

Price £2 2s. per bulb.

CASSANDRA.

Price £7 per 1 ,000.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

Price 15 - per bulb.

FIRETAIL.

Price 4 - per bulb.

Page 12.

Page 13.

F. A. SEC RETT,

MARSH FARM, TWICKENHAM,
MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

TELEPHONE: POPESGROVE 1424.

Page 14.

Berufsgartnern

gewahre

auf Gemuse- und Blumensamen . . . . 25°/aRabatt
auf Runkelrliben- und Grassam^n .... 1 0 °/0 .

auf Blumenzwiebeln, Knollen und PflanzenlO% ,,
auf landwirtschaftliche Samereien, Saat-
kartoffeln, Baumschulartikel, Bucher,

Gartengerate, Diinge- und Schadlings-
Bekampfungs-Mittel . 5°/0 „

Jh. 7. 28.

TERMS.

All bulbs offered subject to crop,
and being unsold on receipt of order.

Orders will be executed in rotation.

Where Bankers’ references are not
furnished — terms strictly cash.

Accounts fall due at Christmas.

All bulbs offered are double-nosed.

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