aeiReeoissoeopehaecgyaarEmntatreoanieRamnso pd in th ssus,the daffodil of Wordsy 'g golden host th-cast In the ,occurs ove Burbide)havegarded it as native to England but this is now gnerallyacctes ust one station of its widespread naturalisation throughout Europe,its true home being France and Iberia.It and some of its white variants(e.g.N.moschatus)are thought to have been brought north by monks travelling between monasteries in southern Europe and those of similar orders in Britain and Ireland.This connection was first noted by W.B. Hartland in Ireland o found several types c hite trumpet daff establishments during his searches for s during the late th century ant sites for Nn e the lake District in Cumbria and origins at these sites are shr ouded in the mists of time but there is a mo onastic connection between these two areas.Local folklore in North Yorkshire has it that the Farndale daffodils came from a religious house in neighbouring Rosedale.Little survives of this 12th century nunnery,but it is possible that its former inhabitants were instrumental in bringing daffodils to Farndale.There is,however,a much more Ao6oasemRdc the mid-13th century,the m onks from the ey ed a grant I6, ey continu un century founded Byl 117 natcdfi y in Cumbi ria.Byla of all.Fa ns and ndale on a direct line bet dand and Rosedale and therefo possibly on the route taken by monks travelling to the iron workings.Evidence that monks were both gro owing and moving daffodils is seen in the presence today of N.pseudonarcissus at other sites in north Yorkshire temporarily occupied by them before finally settling at byland Flemish Weavers and Huguenot Refugees ngland were the Flemis ere also noted fo tural prowess 16th century pro stant hug not refug es fled to England from the Continent brin gardening for which the French,Dutch,Flemings and Walloons had for many years been famous.A considerable number of these refugees landed in 1561 and settled in and around the coastal towns of Kent,Sussex and East Anglia as far north as Norfolk.It was the Flemings who had the strongest influence on Elizabethan horticulture They settled in Sandwich,on an important town and of the Cinque Ports,but by the ury nr ayed was 2 arou nea to t garden s.The qu ty o r produce quick the deman ha D Th hLondonbeinesuch g the seed trade in England and by the late daffodil bulbs am ong their merchandise. One daffodil that may have been introduced during the 16th century was the fazetta daffodil 'Soleil d'Or' known to have bee n grown in the Isles of Scilly before the dissolution of the monasteries in 1534.Some of the V.poencus are it grow ing in Kent and Norfolk site common to both the Huguenots an e the over a c ved in ,the ent ch d the Ter ed to th Flemings.A similar daffodil was also reported from another Flemish settement in Co.Wexford.Ireland Although the connections between Wales and the Tenby Daffodil go back several centuries,only in relatively recent times(1911)was it officially adopted as the National Flower of Wales-during the investiture of Prince Edward as Prince of Wales.The significance of the daffodil (and the leek),however,go back much further 24
24 scenes from his poems and stories. What therefore would have been more natural than for colonising Romans to take with them one of his favourite flowers, to plant wherever they settled. Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the daffodil of Wordsworth’s ‘golden host’, occurs over a large area of Europe from England in the north-west to Romania in the south-east. In the past, some authorities (e.g. F.W. Burbidge) have regarded it as native to England, but this is now generally accepted as just one station of its widespread naturalisation throughout Europe, its true home being France and Iberia. It and some of its white variants (e.g. N. moschatus) are thought to have been brought north by monks travelling between monasteries in southern Europe and those of similar orders in Britain and Ireland. This connection was first noted by W.B. Hartland in Ireland, who found several types of white trumpet daffodil growing in the vicinity of monastic establishments during his searches for ‘new’ daffodils during the late 19th century. In England, two of the important sites for N. pseudonarcissus are the Lake District in Cumbria and Farndale in North Yorkshire. Their origins at these sites are shrouded in the mists of time but there is a monastic connection between these two areas. Local folklore in North Yorkshire has it that the Farndale daffodils came from a religious house in neighbouring Rosedale. Little survives of this 12th century nunnery, but it is possible that its former inhabitants were instrumental in bringing daffodils to Farndale. There is, however, a much more intriguing connection between Rosedale and the Lake District. In the mid-13th century, the monks from the Abbey of Byland secured a grant to work iron ore in Rosedale, which they continued to do until the early 16th century. The monks who founded Byland Abbey in 1177 originated from Furness Abbey in Cumbria. Byland became one of the major monastic establishments in the north, being larger than the better known Fountains and Rievaulx. Most fascinating of all, Farndale is on a direct line between Byland and Rosedale and, therefore, possibly on the route taken by monks travelling to the iron workings. Evidence that monks were both growing and moving daffodils is seen in the presence today of N. pseudonarcissus at other sites in north Yorkshire temporarily occupied by them before finally settling at Byland. Flemish Weavers and Huguenot Refugees The first to arrive in England were the Flemish weavers, imported for their skills, during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). The Flemings were also noted for their horticultural prowess and are known to have brought several types of garden plant with them, although whether they brought Narcissi is not known. During the 16th century, Protestant Huguenot refugees fled to England from the Continent, bringing with them the skills in gardening for which the French, Dutch, Flemings and Walloons had for many years been famous. A considerable number of these refugees landed in 1561 and settled in and around the coastal towns of Kent, Sussex and East Anglia as far north as Norfolk. It was the Flemings who had the strongest influence on Elizabethan horticulture. They settled in Sandwich, once an important town and one of the Cinque Ports, but by the second half of the 16th century it had largely decayed and was all but deserted. The soil around Sandwich proved ideally suited to their gardening skills. The quality of their produce quickly became known, the demand for it in London being such that some of them moved to Battersea, Bermondsey and Wandsworth. This group of Flemings were instrumental in establishing the seed trade in England and by the late 16th century were including daffodil bulbs among their merchandise. One daffodil that may have been introduced during the 16th century was the tazetta daffodil ‘Soleil d’Or’, known to have been grown in the Isles of Scilly before the dissolution of the monasteries in 1534. Some of the earliest reports of N. poeticus are of it growing in Kent and Norfolk sites common to both the Huguenots and the Romans before them. Huguenots also settled in Ireland, though over a century after they arrived in England, the first entry in the register of the French Church at Portarlington being made in 1694. Another possible Huguenot connection involved the Tenby Daffodil that was reported to have been introduced to that part of Wales by Flemings. A similar daffodil was also reported from another Flemish settlement in Co. Wexford, Ireland. Although the connections between Wales and the Tenby Daffodil go back several centuries, only in relatively recent times (1911) was it officially adopted as the National Flower of Wales – during the investiture of Prince Edward as Prince of Wales. The significance of the daffodil (and the leek), however, go back much further
his death h enry's randmothe was Cathe ne de Valois Tudor in 1425 he de val and white.The Welsh bards had lon Entisiners would emthwhich wuld again e of Welsh ancestry.Knowing of this prophecy and of his Welsh connections,Henry determined to make the forecast come true and landed secretly in South Wales in 1485.During the ensuing struggle,the de Valois colours of green and white became a symbol among patriots,who used both daffodil and leek to indicate their allegiance. In the Gardens of Mainland Europe e natural hybrids derived from ther ille N i drus for ex nle have hee ther nce the 16th century cords n from about the 1560s onwards.Around the same time.the double form of N.italicus,known as the Double Roman,was introduced into the Netherlands from Constantinople(now Istanbul).This daffodil was a close relative of N.tazetta,of which another form,N.papyraceus,the 'Paper White',had been cultivated in Italy for centuries.In fac tazetta daffodils were so popular in gardens and as cut flowers on the Continent that by 1800 between 200 and 300 distinct types had been developed and name everal types o ealobengtF n in Contine an garden nce sh which is now kno own as N has he yn in no tn Eu for a simil eriod and its outstandi form.'Maximus',was recog sed before 1576.Another early arrival was N.Eystettensis'(Queen Anne's Double Daffodil)that was known in 1601. One of the most widely grown types of daffodil originated from the hybridisation of N.poeticus and N simply as bilis.I hese were c the eare pea uses of p D th the th cen urope an were pla extensively by ape Le Gerard,Tradescant and Parkinsor During the late 16th and early 17th centuries,three men who championed garden plants,including the daffodil,lived in England. The firs of these was John Gerard(1545-1612),born in Nantw ch,Ch went to live in ere he cca a ba icine Lane.His Physic Garden quickly be me famous for the tity of the nlants that it contair ing him ar unrivalled opportunity to become familiar with those grown in gardens at that time am ong which daffodils featured prominently.In addition to attending to his own garden,he also supervised the gardens at the London home of Lord Burghley in the Strand,and those at his country seat,Theobalds,in Hertfordshire.Today,Gerard is chiefly remembered for his Herball published in 1597and dedicated to Lord Burghley,although whether it was patable,much of ts content probably coming from the P emptades(1583)of daffodils grown a that time and thes cal plants i tually growing mn The origins of lohn tradesean 4c1570.16381a ded in muster little being k own of his early life.It was rumoured that he was a Fleming and he may possibly have been the son of a family of Huguenot refugees.He first came to notice at Meopham in Kent where his double Great Rose Daffodil is said to have grown.He took part in several overse. stours,some military in nature and others to acquir re new plants for his aristocratic employers,who included the Earl of Salis ury, ord wotton nd the Duke Buckingham.In 1611 he travelled to the Continent in search of seeds and bulbs.At Haarlem,still the centre of the bulb trade in the 25
25 in Welsh history to the time of Henry Tudor in the 15th century. Henry’s grandmother was Catherine de Valois who had been married to Henry V of England, and after his death became the wife of Owen Tudor in 1425. Subsequently, Owen adopted the de Valois family colours of green and white. The Welsh bards had long prophesied that the English invaders would be driven from the country, which would again be ruled by someone of Welsh ancestry. Knowing of this prophecy and of his Welsh connections, Henry determined to make the forecast come true and landed secretly in South Wales in 1485. During the ensuing struggle, the de Valois colours of green and white became a symbol among patriots, who used both daffodil and leek to indicate their allegiance. In the Gardens of Mainland Europe A good number of species, together with the natural hybrids derived from them, were cultivated in European gardens over several centuries. N. jonquilla, N. juncifolius (now known as N. assoanus) and N. triandrus, for example, have been grown there since the 16th century, records dating from about the 1560s onwards. Around the same time, the double form of N. italicus, known as the Double Roman, was introduced into the Netherlands from Constantinople (now Istanbul). This daffodil was a close relative of N. tazetta, of which another form, N. papyraceus, the ‘Paper White’, had been cultivated in Italy for centuries. In fact, tazetta daffodils were so popular in gardens and as cut flowers on the Continent that by 1800 between 200 and 300 distinct types had been developed and named. Several types of white trumpet daffodil have also been grown in Continental gardens since the 1500s, two (N. moschatus and N. tortuosus) being found in the gardens of France since that time although, over the last century, N. tortuosus has almost disappeared. The yellow N. pseudonarcissus subsp. major, which is now known as N. hispanicus, has been grown in northern Europe for a similar period and its outstanding form, ‘Maximus’, was recognised before 1576. Another early arrival was N. ‘Eystettensis’ (Queen Anne’s Double Daffodil) that was known in 1601. One of the most widely grown types of daffodil originated from the hybridisation of N. poeticus and N. pseudonarcissus, previously known under a myriad of names but now simply as N. × incomparabilis. These hybrids were described in the Hortus Floridus of 1614(6), the earliest European book to deal with the ornamental uses of plants. By the late 17th century, daffodils were in ornamental use throughout Europe and were planted extensively by the famous landscaper, Le Notre, at Trianon(7) . Gerard, Tradescant and Parkinson During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, three men who championed garden plants, including the daffodil, lived in England. The first of these was John Gerard (1545-1612), born in Nantwich, Cheshire. In 1562, he went to live in London, where he became apprenticed to a barber-surgeon. Owing to the close links between plants and medicine at that time, he established a herbal garden at Holborn where he lived, the actual site probably being in Fetter Lane. His Physic Garden quickly became famous for the quantity of the plants that it contained giving him an unrivalled opportunity to become familiar with those grown in gardens at that time among which daffodils featured prominently. In addition to attending to his own garden, he also supervised the gardens at the London home of Lord Burghley in the Strand, and those at his country seat, Theobalds, in Hertfordshire. Today, Gerard is chiefly remembered for his Herball published in 1597(8) and dedicated to Lord Burghley, although whether it was entirely his own work is debatable, much of its content probably coming from the Pemptades (1583) of Dodoens(9). The Herball did, however, contain considerable information about the daffodils grown at that time. Gerard also published two lists, in 1596(10) and 1599(11), of plants that he was actually growing in his Physic Garden, and these reveal plants in cultivation in English gardens at that time. The origins of John Tradescant (c. 1570-1638) are shrouded in mystery, little being known of his early life. It was rumoured that he was a Fleming and he may possibly have been the son of a family of Huguenot refugees. He first came to notice at Meopham in Kent where his double Great Rose Daffodil is said to have grown. He took part in several overseas tours, some military in nature and others to acquire new plants for his aristocratic employers, who included the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Wotton and the Duke of Buckingham. In 1611, he travelled to the Continent in search of seeds and bulbs. At Haarlem, still the centre of the bulb trade in the
hre he y e anee oe e he plant rds o ora.Two years on to Algier the t region.He compa John Parkinson(1567-1650)was by profession an apothecary who gained considerable distinction through his involvement in the foundation of the Society of Apothecaries in 1617,of which he became Warden three years later.He was also Apothecary to King James I.As a result of his fascination with plants,he decided to e his who ime to his garden,which was London.This became well known for the large stock of plants it contained.many of them rarities In 1629 he published the paradisi in sole paradisus terr ris the title heing a latin un Park-in. Sun on his own na e The paradisus Terrestris was the first English book to be conc ed with the oramenta rather than the medicinal use of plants.Included were almost 100 distinct types of daffodil and it was this particular aspect of the work that first aroused Peter Barr's interest in these flowers over 200 years later.Why. wondered Barr,had most of these old types of daffodil disappeared?His curiosity led to an intense search for hese old varie stimulated a rev e late and at enrietta Maria shortly after its publi ation, Parkinson was appointec tanist to The nrominence aiven to daffodils w arkable at a tim when the tul vas the most importan bulbous flower:its stately appearance fitted in well with the strict formalism of Elizabethan and Stuart gardens The much less rigid,swaying and dancing daffodil seemed ill at ease among geometrical symmetry.Yet there is ittle doubt of its popularity both as a garden plant and as a cut flower in the early 17th century,for Mr Wilmer's Double Daffodil was one of the best known florists'flowers at that time.Nowadays better known asVan Sion', and found along hedgerows and in woodland,it is widely naturalised in Britain and Ireland 19th Century Daffodil Hunters The enthusiastic daffodil hunter s of the late 19th eof two arched old gardens and estates in their own country and those who journeved overs discovering the remnants of populations introduced many years earlier,together with any hybrids that may have arisen from them.Those who went abroad sought to discover new species or to reintroduce old ones to mportanty mong tter.He travellilliam Baylor Hartand of Cork,hl Peter Barrgured cultivation.Prominent among the form widely in France,Spain and Portugal in search of wild daffodils that for many years I n habitat nspired by aw Terrestris,Ba s determined to locate and r of N.triandrus ar albus k n as s po He also red ou which is iohastonii now known as n x taitii while on mount perdu in the spanish pyrenees he found n moschatus and risited the more westerly habitats of n minimus and a cyclamineus He also travelled to the isles of glenan off the south-west coast of Brittany where he saw N.triandrus var.loiselewrii. Barr's was the merc ant and plan coll ctor,Alfred Tait,Baron de uthellino. whicpne oft to the Dod i h0 E W Burbidge sav g that Tait hoped that he(Wolley-Dod)would be able to get it named as N.henri sii at the next meeting of the Daffodil Committee Wolley-Dod referred to daffodils illustrated in Parkinson's Paradisus Terrestris and Theatrum Florae(1633)4),which he thought were called N.cyclamineus by Haworth.In a further etter,Wolley-Dod wrote of Tait's"most interesting daffodils"which"were found in Portugal,a large number growing together and in a spot near which neither N.triandrus nor N.pseudonarcissus grew.Mr Tait wishes me 26
26 Netherlands, he acquired a considerable quantity of daffodil bulbs that he brought back to England. In 1618, he visited Russia where he plant-hunted extensively in the Archangel region, producing the earliest known records of the Russian flora. Two years later, Tradescant went on an expedition to Algiers, ostensibly against the Corsairs, but the true purpose was to obtain a type of apricot zealously guarded by the inhabitants of that region. He also accompanied the Duke of Buckingham on his unsuccessful attempt to relieve La Rochelle. John Parkinson (1567-1650) was by profession an apothecary who gained considerable distinction through his involvement in the foundation of the Society of Apothecaries in 1617, of which he became Warden three years later. He was also Apothecary to King James I. As a result of his fascination with plants, he decided to retire from his profession in 1622 to devote his whole time to his garden, which was situated in Long Acre, London. This became well known for the large stock of plants it contained, many of them rarities. In 1629, he published the Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris(12), the title being a Latin pun, Park-inSun, on his own name. The Paradisus Terrestris was the first English book to be concerned with the ornamental rather than the medicinal use of plants. Included were almost 100 distinct types of daffodil and it was this particular aspect of the work that first aroused Peter Barr’s interest in these flowers over 200 years later. Why, wondered Barr, had most of these old types of daffodil disappeared? His curiosity led to an intense search for these old varieties, which stimulated a revival in the daffodil’s fortunes during the late 19th century that culminated in the Daffodil Conference of 1884. The Paradisus Terrestris was dedicated to Queen Henrietta Maria and, shortly after its publication, Parkinson was appointed Botanist to King Charles I. The prominence given to daffodils was remarkable at a time when the tulip was the most important bulbous flower: its stately appearance fitted in well with the strict formalism of Elizabethan and Stuart gardens. The much less rigid, swaying and dancing daffodil seemed ill at ease among geometrical symmetry. Yet there is little doubt of its popularity both as a garden plant and as a cut flower in the early 17th century, for Mr Wilmer’s Double Daffodil was one of the best known florists’ flowers at that time. Nowadays better known as ‘Van Sion’, and found along hedgerows and in woodland, it is widely naturalised in Britain and Ireland. 19th Century Daffodil Hunters The enthusiastic daffodil hunters of the late 19th century were of two types – those who searched old gardens and estates in their own country and those who journeyed overseas. The former were intent on discovering the remnants of populations introduced many years earlier, together with any hybrids that may have arisen from them. Those who went abroad sought to discover new species or to reintroduce old ones to cultivation. Prominent among the former group was William Baylor Hartland of Cork, while Peter Barr figured importantly among the latter. He travelled widely in France, Spain and Portugal in search of wild daffodils that for many years he had longed to see growing in their natural habitats. Inspired by what he saw and read in the Paradisus Terrestris, Barr was determined to locate and reintroduce as many of these daffodils as possible. He had many successes, his best known being the vigorous form of N. triandrus var. albus known as Angels Tears. He also discovered ‘Queen of Spain’, which is a form of N. × johnstonii, now known as N. × taitii. While on Mount Perdu in the Spanish Pyrenees, he found N. moschatus and visited the more westerly habitats of N. minimus and N. cyclamineus. He also travelled to the Îsles of Glénan off the south-west coast of Brittany where he saw N. triandrus var. loiseleurii. A great friend of Barr’s was the wine merchant and plant collector, Alfred Tait, Baron de Southellino, who lived in Portugal and was a friend of Professor Henriques of Coimbra, one of the foremost daffodil authorities at that time. In 1886, Tait discovered a daffodil in Portugal, which he wished to name in honour of Henriques. He sent two bulbs to the Revd Charles Wolley-Dod in England, who subsequently wrote to F.W. Burbidge saying that Tait hoped that he (Wolley-Dod) would be able to get it named as N. henriquesii at the next meeting of the Daffodil Committee(13). Wolley-Dod referred to daffodils illustrated in Parkinson’s Paradisus Terrestris and Theatrum Florae (1633)(14), which he thought were called N. cyclamineus by Haworth. In a further letter, Wolley-Dod wrote of Tait’s “most interesting daffodils” which “were found in Portugal, a large number growing together and in a spot near which neither N. triandrus nor N. pseudonarcissus grew. Mr Tait wishes me
he ic to have t s of Don He mill ha (16)This he th ght would be regret ttable as "both he Henriques]and Mr.Tait are doing such excellent work in the field of daffodils" Ina letter dated 25 August 188sent to Burbidge from 115 Entre Quintas,Oporto,Tait referred to the most interesting N.triandrus var.pulchellus.Known since the time of Parkinson (Narcissus juncifolius chalice albo luteis)and the most common form of N.rindus in gardens of the late 19th and early 20th unes,It now appear nave vanish his daffo unusual mn two re was the distinctly lacked asatruly wild plant Yet in his let cr to Bur The var aty which nder this name pulchellus]was I think t bv friend.the late Mr.WS Crawford.to Mr.Barr.Loften accompanied him on his botanical excursions and I can assure you that all his N.triandrus were collected near Oporto in the same localities where I have obtained plants.' It has been uggested hat pu llus may be a hybrid between the two varie concolo n its notice ie n the rids If Tai The Revd Charles Wolley-Dod,most avid of all the late 19th century daffodil correspondents,was also a daffodil collector in mainland Europe.He was responsible for the re-introduction of N.pallidiflorus in1882. although it had been recorded eing in cultivation as far back as 1629.He also reintroduced N 粉e网mmm金heme童变盗n品 The Daffodil in the Landscape It has been seen that the daffodil first became a popular decorative garden plant in the early 1600s.In terms of contemporary landscape style,this popularity is difficult to understand,for the Elizabethan period was characterised by a strictly formal approach to design,almost bordering on the artificial.The daffodil did not fit easily into this context,being a much too natural a flower to grace such a formal setting.With its u nbending mality of de the pla found ape,a good example being a plea obhwas This rticular tree was a lime whose branches v plashed to form an arbour Then,after a further space of eight feet 25 ml again round about so orderly,as if it were done by art." up its branchesw ere bent vet Yet among this artificiality,there can be little doubt of the daffodil's widespread popularity,for the new ed northward and v rds through Europe durir g the previous e.In suc of gard and ready to es with its popu ity the 1600s the late howe matically.Ther and s are not full understood,for it enjoyed a period of great popularity during the second half of the 18th century.Garden formality did re-appear,however,during the early Victorian period when many new,exotic genera were introduced from which exciting hybrids were raised.Many of these introductions were the early forms of the re ideally suited to the formal beds of the 27
27 to communicate with you at once as he is very anxious to have it named after his friend Don Henriques.” (15) In another letter to Burbidge, Wolley-Dod wrote: “What if this plant should be the same as N. cyclamineus of Haworth … if this is the case Don Henriques will have to give way.” (16) This he thought would be regrettable as “both he [Henriques] and Mr. Tait are doing such excellent work in the field of daffodils”. In a letter dated 25 August 1886(17) sent to Burbidge from 115 Entre Quintas, Oporto, Tait referred to the most interesting N. triandrus var. pulchellus. Known since the time of Parkinson (Narcissus juncifolius chalice albo reflexis foliis luteis) and the most common form of N. triandrus in gardens of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it now appears to have vanished from cultivation. This daffodil was unusual in two respects: it was the only form of any species that was a reverse bicolor, with white corona and yellow perianth, and the literature distinctly lacked any reference to it as a truly wild plant. Yet in his letter to Burbidge, Tait wrote: “The variety which goes under this name [pulchellus] was I think sent by my friend, the late Mr. W.S. Crawford, to Mr. Barr. I often accompanied him on his botanical excursions and I can assure you that all his N. triandrus were collected near Oporto in the same localities where I have obtained plants.” It has been suggested that pulchellus may be a hybrid between the two varieties of triandrus known as concolor and cernuus (now subsp. pallidulus), perhaps on no more substantial grounds than its noticeable vigour compared with other triandrus varieties. It is, however, a diploid like other varieties of this species and therefore its vigorous nature is not the result of the polyploidy so often associated with hybrids. If Tait’s recollections in his letter of 25 August are correct, then the status of pulchellus as a variety of triandrus may well be correct. The Revd Charles Wolley-Dod, most avid of all the late 19th century daffodil correspondents, was also a daffodil collector in mainland Europe. He was responsible for the re-introduction of N. pallidiflorus in 1882, although it had been recorded as being in cultivation as far back as 1629. He also reintroduced N. triandrus var. loiseleurii (calathinus) from the Îsles of Glénan at about the same time, it having first been introduced in the early 19th century. The Daffodil in the Landscape It has been seen that the daffodil first became a popular decorative garden plant in the early 1600s. In terms of contemporary landscape style, this popularity is difficult to understand, for the Elizabethan period was characterised by a strictly formal approach to design, almost bordering on the artificial. The daffodil did not fit easily into this context, being a much too natural a flower to grace such a formal setting. With its unbending stateliness, the tulip was much more apposite. A formality of design was even evident in some of the plants found in this landscape, a good example being a pleached lime tree at Cobham Hall, described by Parkinson in the Paradisus Terrestris: “This particular tree was a lime whose branches were plashed to form an arbour. Then, after a further space of eight feet [2.5 m] up the trunk, its branches were bent yet again round about so orderly, as if it were done by art.”(18) Yet among this artificiality, there can be little doubt of the daffodil’s widespread popularity, for the new types that had filtered northwards and westwards through Europe during the previous 100 years still possessed a certain novelty value. In such arbiters of garden taste as Tradescant and Parkinson, the daffodil had staunch allies ready to espouse its cause. If the number of different types grown correlate with its popularity then it certainly was a popular plant, more than 100 variants being described in the Paradisus Terrestris. Between the 1600s and the late 19th century, however, the number of available types fell dramatically. The reasons are not fully understood, for it enjoyed a period of great popularity during the second half of the 18th century. Garden formality did re-appear, however, during the early Victorian period when many new, exotic genera were introduced from which exciting hybrids were raised. Many of these introductions were the early forms of the ‘bedding’ plants with which we are familiar today and, thus, were ideally suited to the formal beds of the Victorian garden. There may have been other causes for the daffodils’ apparent decline, for example, attacks by
aot8Rheo网iseadRafiags,nnonreceniopmihkce t was this able decline that initially stimulated Peter Barr inte 1629 had dy dled to a litte over 250 vears?The curiosity that this state of affairs aroused in Barr led to an important series of events including his journeys of daffodil discovery and re-discovery in southern Europe and the organisation of the first Daffodil Conference in 1884.In 1875,F.W.Burbidge did a service to the cause of the daffodil similar to that performed by Parkinson in 1629,when he published The Narcissus:its history and culture This greatly st in th ower,and when he went to Ire nd in 18 and spa the flagging fortunes of the daffod Thus in the relatively sho nd a half centuries landsca changes that had influenced the fortu es and r pularity of the daffodil At the start of this formal and the daffodil was both numerous and varied in its forms.The first significant change occurred early in the 18th century.It was fostered by the landscape paintings of Claude Lorrain(1600-1682)and Gaspard Dughet, also known as Gaspard Poussin (1615-1675),together with writers like Francis Bacon(1561-1626),who first suggested a natural wildness and Alexander Pope(1688 4),who wrote of the amiable simplicity o s artis vel,m any o ce ur 10 rlon whi fe.the ts of the of ded by the fo as the addition o aa very practical reason for it to be altered for gd fox hunting de manded a more open there was type of landscape,interspersed with thick copse cover.This was in contrast to the long,straight runs required for deer hunting.so admirably provided by the radiating avenues of trees prevalent in the earlier style. is 1715 whe new s styl of irregularity found pre ion at dley Royal near Ripon,north York in di in A ,a10 C d equer.began work o e he was e f at Sto ad ckto fo ndscape ardening reached its ze nith with the work of 'Capability'Brown(1715-1783)and Hum phry Renton (1752. 1818)and it is in several of the landscanes created by the former that daffodils are found in their ideal natural setting.At no other time since their introduction,largely in the 16th century,had daffodils found a setting so :losely akin to their native habitats.and in sympathy with their informal nature.as they did in the 18th century Thi f the daf short- orbcoaehol me landscaped e states did no uch an in in st their main p ng one of neglect owing to absentee landlords.particularly after the Act of Union in 1800. Records of scenes of desolation to be found on their estates are frequently found in Irish chronicles of the period,as graphicay capured ad decaying scat of the Fitadlem family stone pillars on either overgr n w ns, some h dges mou d on eithe n a in the 44 ed f of frie idst heaps of nettles.furze bushes and long rye grass.The pre cinitous declivities which swent down from the rocky foundation of the house to the river had been cut into terrace gardens a fashion still observable at the seats of the ancient nobility in Munster:and it was melancholy to observe the stunted rose tree and other once cultivated but now degenerate 28
28 pathogens such as the Stem and Bulb Eelworm or the Basal Rot fungus, known to have been responsible for the decimation of daffodil populations in more recent times. It was this seemingly inexplicable decline that initially stimulated Peter Barr’s interest in daffodils. How could it be that the hundred sorts described by Parkinson in 1629 had dwindled to a mere handful in a period of little over 250 years? The curiosity that this state of affairs aroused in Barr led to an important series of events, including his journeys of daffodil discovery and re-discovery in southern Europe and the organisation of the first Daffodil Conference in 1884. In 1875, F.W. Burbidge did a service to the cause of the daffodil similar to that performed by Parkinson in 1629, when he published The Narcissus: its history and culture(19). This greatly stimulated interest in the flower, and when he went to Ireland in 1879 and sparked the interest of Cork nurseryman W. Baylor Hartland, the flagging fortunes of the daffodil were set for revival. Thus, in the relatively short space of two and a half centuries, landscape design had undergone major changes that had influenced the fortunes and popularity of the daffodil. At the start of this period the design was formal and the daffodil was both numerous and varied in its forms. The first significant change occurred early in the 18th century. It was fostered by the landscape paintings of Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) and Gaspard Dughet, also known as Gaspard Poussin (1615-1675), together with writers like Francis Bacon (1561-1626), who first suggested “a natural wildness”(20) and Alexander Pope (1688-1744), who wrote of “the amiable simplicity of unadorned nature”(21). This artistic revolution was accompanied by greater freedom of travel, many of means and influence undertaking the ‘Grand Tour’ on which they saw, in real life, the subjects of the paintings of Claude Lorrain and Gaspard Poussin. More or less simultaneously, changes occurred in hunting, the deer being superseded by the fox as the main quarry. So, in addition to the artistic pressure for landscape change, there was also a very practical reason for it to be altered, for good fox hunting demanded a more irregular, open type of landscape, interspersed with thick copse cover. This was in contrast to the long, straight runs required for deer hunting, so admirably provided by the radiating avenues of trees prevalent in the earlier style. This new style of irregularity found early expression at Studley Royal near Ripon, north Yorkshire around 1715 when John Aislabie, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, began work on the family estate to which he was banished in disgrace following the South Sea Bubble scandal. Others were quick to follow in similar style: William Kent at Rousham in 1738, and Hoare and Flitcroft at Stourhead a few years later. This style of landscape gardening reached its zenith with the work of ‘Capability’ Brown (1715-1783) and Humphry Repton (1752- 1818), and it is in several of the landscapes created by the former that daffodils are found in their ideal, natural setting. At no other time since their introduction, largely in the 16th century, had daffodils found a setting so closely akin to their native habitats, and in sympathy with their informal nature, as they did in the 18th century landscape. This period of the daffodil’s supremacy was short-lived, as a more formal approach to landscape design was adopted during the early Victorian period, encouraged by the development of bedding plants. In Ireland, some landscaped estates did not undergo such an intentional change in style, their main problem being one of neglect owing to absentee landlords, particularly after the Act of Union in 1800. Records of scenes of desolation to be found on their estates are frequently found in Irish chronicles of the period, as graphically captured in Lady Morgan’s description of the decaying seat of the Fitzadlem family: “The massive stone pillars on either side, overgrown with lichens, still exhibited some vestiges of handsome sculpture … . Two lodges mouldered on either side in absolute ruin, and the intended improvement of a Greek portico to one, never finished was still obvious in the scattered fragments of friezes and entablatures which lay choked amidst heaps of nettles, furze bushes and long rye grass. The precipitous declivities which swept down from the rocky foundation of the house to the river had been cut into terrace gardens, a fashion still observable at the seats of the ancient nobility in Munster: and it was melancholy to observe the stunted rose tree and other once cultivated but now degenerate