TRANSPLANTING, 37 
or distinctions between them. The tunicated bulbs, such as those of 
the hyacinth and the onion, and the squamose bulbs, such as those of 
the lily, they consider to be underground buds; while tubers, such as 
those of the dahlia, and the potatoe, and solid bulbs or corms, such 
as those of the crocus, they regard as underground stems. 
These distinctions, however, though they may be interesting to 
tke botanist and vegetable physiologist, are of little or no use in prac- 
tice ; the practical gardener treating bulbs and tubers exactly alike, 
and planting them as he would sow a seed: that is to say, he fixes 
them firmly in the ground, and covers them, but not se deeply as to 
exclude the air. In preparing a bed for hyacinths or other tunicated 
bulbs, it is necessary to pulverize the soil to a much greater depth 
than for ordinary seeds; as the true roots of the hyacinth descend 
perpendicularly to a considerable depth, as may be seen when these 
plants are grown in glasses. The very circumstance of growing 
hyacinths in glasses, where they vegetate and send down their roots 
exposed to the full influence of the light, appears contrary to 
usual effects of light on vegetation; and indeed the plants are said 
generally to thrive best, when the glasses are kept in the dark till the 
roots are half grown. However this may be, it is quite certain that 
hyacinths in glasses should never be kept in darkness after their 
leaves have begun to expand; as, if there be not abundance of light 
to occasion rapid evaporation from the leaves, the plants will soon 
become surcharged with moisture from the quantity constantly sup- 
plied to their roots, and the leaves will turn yellow, and look flaccid, 
and unhealthy, while the flowers will be stunted, or will fall off with- 
out expanding. 
Transplanting —The points to be attended to in transplanting, 
are—care in taking up, to avoid injuring the spongioles of the roots; 
planting firmly, to enable the plant to take a secure hold of the soil; 
shading, to prevent the evaporation from the leaves from being great- 
er than the plant in its enfeebled state can support; and watering, 
that it may be abundantly supplied with food in its new abode. 
The first point is to avoid injuring the roots, and it is only necessa- 
ry to consider the construction and uses of these most important 
organs to perceive how impossible it is for the plant to thrive, 
unless they are in a perfectly healthy state. Roots generally consist 
of two paris; the main roots, which are intended to act as grappling 
irons to enable the plants to take a firm hold of the ground, and the 
D Sul 
