AND THEIR CULTURE. 203 



•walnut, clustered around its base, but, in November, the parent bulb has 

 disappeared. Canadense and Sv.perbum, on the contrary, present a different 

 type ; from a horizontal rhizome, a fresh bulb or bud-like growth is 

 annually put forth {see page 82) to flower the succeeding year, and disap- 

 pears the following (third year) quoad its scales ; but I have not been able 

 to satisfy myself that the rhizome dies then ; I believe it puts forth new 

 buds to form the successional growths, and this leads me to point out where 

 I think Dunedin has overstated his case. We may lay it down as a 

 general rule in Lily bulbs, that a fresh central scale growth occurs 

 normally every year, starting jirobably from one or more central buds at 

 the base of the flower stem ; but that other lateral buds may likewise be 

 developed and forced into action. This central growth, known by its fresh 

 light colour, pushes and widens out the old scales, some of which, after a 

 time, decay, or are fed off, or are detached and form new bulbs, or may be 

 absorbed ; within this new growth, is developed the flower stem of the 

 succeeding year, and likewise the germs of future growth ; and, so far I 

 agree with Dunedin, that, without new growth in the preceding year, no 

 flower can be expected. But — and Dunedin saj^s nothing about this — 

 what becomes of the central axis ? The root stock or main axis, vertical 

 in the case of the squamose perennial bulb, such as Dalmaticum and 

 Wallichianum — horizontal in those of Puberulum and Saperhum — oblique, as 

 in those of Hwnholdtii and JVasTtin'jtonianum^ is an important factor in the 

 jDroblem ; from Dunedin's statement (seepage 196), I infer that he believes, 

 that this perishes annually ; my observations have led me to believe, that, 

 whereas the scales may perish and are renewed from time to time, the 

 central axis or root-stock is just that part of the Lily that maintains its 

 growth for a much longer season, putting forth new buds each year, to 

 perpetuate its form, but justifying the common remark, so strongly 

 repudiated by Dunedin, that the same Lily continues to flower year by 

 year.* In Uiganteum, I think we may safely infer that root-stock life is 

 limited ; the prolongation of the bulb into that stout gigantic stem, seems 

 to absorb the strength of the plant, and only a few lateral buds start into 

 action ; but, until the flower stem is thrown up (and I think that we may 



* " Some Lilies, notably X. Pardalinum, are so markedly rhizomatous that, Avliile the 

 scales decay after one year, the root-stock and base of the decayed scales remain for at 

 least three years (I liave not observed this bulb for a greater length of time). In one 

 instance the root-stock, growing horizontally, divided into two equal parts, the two ends 

 clothed witli scales being still joined by a fresh and succulent stem. 



*' This Lily then {Pardalinum), is neither a simple bulb nor does it die and renew 

 itself entirely even in two years. On the otlier hand, only last week I found the young 

 growtli from a bulb of I'esfAiccum actually growing up inside the decayed Hower-stalk of 

 last year, and blanched in conseipience. This points clearly to the upward and unbroken 

 growtli from the core of last year, which was so exactly under the tlower stem of last 

 year as not to have swerved in the least from one side or the other. In this hybrid the 

 scales of more than one season's growth are visible in autumn very distinctly, if a bulb 

 be mutilated one year, and exanuned the next autumn. In a third instance there appears 

 to be a total change both of scales and core in a year's time. The ditlerent ways of 

 reproduction in Lilies are so marked that it alone would afford subject matter for endless 

 remarks and controversy. I venture, therefore, to suggest that, in default of a better 

 word, the term rhizomatous bulb might Ix-st exjilain the somewhat contradictory charac- 

 teristics of what have been liitlierto called Lily bulbs. '" — A'. II. Wwdlmll, in Garden, 

 col. 15, p. 227, • 



