Daffodil Types, Historics

Observations from Guy L Wilson Catalogues 1953 and 1954

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Hi all,
 
I have been given two catalogues and have been reading through the names of the time.
 
Picked for a mention:
from new varieties for 1954;
‘Beleek’ (Guy L Wilson) Rose of Tralee by Evening, each £5
‘Irish Rose’ (GLW) Interim by Evening, each £12, I see a £10, £9 and a few £7s, but many are in shillings. (1 shilling = £0.05)
new from 1953;
‘Charity May’ (C D Coleman) Mitylene x Cyclamineus £0.75
 
Other breeders represented include;
Brodie of Brodie, D Blanchard, C R Wootton, Engleheart, J L Richardson, P D Williams, A M Wilson, Miss Evelyn.
 
The rate in 1954 was $2.81 USA to £1 sterling.
 
I see one called ‘Corncrake’ (GLW).  Corncrakes were well represented in hay fields at the time, but increasing mechanisation and earlier processing of forage as silage has seriously reduced numbers.
‘Cromarty’ (Brodie), I expect is named after Cromarty and Cromarty Firth, not far from Brodie Castle.
I suppose ‘Beleek’ relates to the well respected Beleek China made in N Ireland.
 
George Norris,  Ayr, Scotland
 
 
 
 
 
 

2 comments for “Observations from Guy L Wilson Catalogues 1953 and 1954”

  1. George,

    Thank you for the naming references!  I really enjoy learning about the whys and wherefores that result in a flower’s name!

    Edie Godfrey

    Minnesota USA

    Single digit F. temperatures and some snow on the ground, more predicted for the weekend.  Friends are purchasing light boxes to ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder since we’ve had so little sunshine in November and so far this month.

     


  2. Hello George,
    Glad to note your interest in Guy Wilson catalogues. I have a collection dating back to 1939 including those of the 1950’s except 1954 and 1955. I have similar collections of Richardsons and other major suppliers of the second half of the 20th Century.
    You picked out some interesting points from your catalogues. There are stories in each of them and a reason for almost every name! This reminds me of many years ago –  I had an enthusiastic young helper when packing flowers for a London Show, his job was to record the name of each variety on the outside of each box. He surprised me by saying something like ” I have written 35 names and I have 35 stories” Obviously as we worked I had been chantering on about the origin of each daffodil name.
    Glad to know there is an interest in Ayr.
    Brian Duncan

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