Daffnetters,
I was asked to forward my recent post sent to the Historics group to you Daffnet members. The reason I sent this post was because the ADS has had recent discussions about additional age groupings.
Enjoy,
Nancy Martinez, Calif
“I just received the National Daff Soc of New Zealand’s (NDS) Newsletter and found an interesting article by Reg Cull about their society’s >new Historics classes at N.D.S. Shows. I’m copying Denise McQuarrie, the NDS National Secretary and the person who put this newsletter together. I will try to condense Reg’s article in this email. Reg begins with three bullets: New Concept, New Trophies , Old Cultivars.
He goes on to state that the NDS Executive has decided to expand the Historic classes for the purpose of revitalizing Historic cultivars. There will be four classes and only cultivars listed in >the RHS Register will be eligible. The four classes are:
1. 1900 ————————–Historic
2. Registered 1900-1939——Vintage
3. Registered 1940-1960——Classics
4. Trophy Class—————–3 Heritage, 3 Vintage, 3 Classic >one or more varieties, 3 vases.
The General rules are:
- Historic Premier to come from Classes 1, 2, 3, 4
- Premier to be judged with the age of the cultivar in view
- Division 10, 12, and 13 are not included
- Entries must be clear named with year of reg
NDS is fortunate that Reg and Rita Cull have donated trophies for both the North and South Island National Shows. Some of this sounds familiar, what with the ADS’s recent discussions of an additional grouping after 1939. Titles for this group such as Baby Boomer and Classics have been brought forward.
Thought I would share how New Zealand plans to treat their Historic groupings. Denise, we are looking forward to hearing how these new classes do in your upcoming shows. ”
Daffnetters,
I am not an enthusiast for historic classes for three main reasons;-
1) All plants deteriorate to some degree through constant re-propragation and what we see 20,40.60 years or more after introduction may be only shadows of the originally introduced plant.
2) Going back to historic plants, from which breeders of many decades have sought to create improvements for exhibition purposes seems to be a denigration of those efforts.
3) Most of these old ‘historic’ varieties have been subjected to and succumbed to many of the viruses, diseases and pests that afflict daffodils – and many are dangerous plant companions in more modern daffodil collections.
My one effort to assemble a collection ‘Historic’ and famous ‘breeders’ of the past led to expensive, troublesome and long term reparative action.
Having said all that, I commend the Kiwis. Their approach to organising classes seems to be eminently sensible for those who want to pursue the historic varieties. . I would be glad to see such classes so clearly defined, they will undoubtedly be really educational and provide a measure of development.
Brian