206 NOTES ON LILIES 



of last year's qrowlh, hat those of three or four yearH^ of arje. I AM OF 

 OPINION THAT THE OLD BULB DOES NOT 'DEGAY EVERY 

 YEAR. I cannot now, from want of careful investigation, say much 

 about the mode of vegetation of ther Rhizomatous group, but I may state, 

 that even among those, a different mode of vegetation takes place." — 

 Garden, vol. lo, p. 252. 



§2G. I cannot understand bow — if it bo true, as Dunedin asserts, 'that Lily 

 bulbs are all annual in growth, and that each year, the old bulbs disappear 

 entirely, and new bulbs succeed — large bulbs are built up.' We import 

 from Japan, every year, hundreds of bulbs, measuring 12 to 14 or 16 

 inches in circumference, many weighing a pound each. In many of these is 

 plainly visible a hole, whei'ein the base of the old stalk has been attached ; 

 this is generally situated, not in the centre, not outside the bulb, but 

 liaving, say, one-third of the bulb on one side, and two-tliirds of the bulb 

 on the other, I can detect no difference in appearance in the scales, in the 

 majority of these Ijulbs, they all look equally fresh, plump, and healthy. 

 Is it possible, that these are entirely new bulbs, embracing — Mark ! not 

 lying to one side of — the old flower stem ; if so, how did the new growth 

 manage to encircle* the stem, and what has become of the old bulb ? 

 N. B. — The bulbs oi! Aiiratiim which are imported into Europe, are dug up 

 in Japan, mostly in the months of October or November. The same- 

 remarks will apply more or less, to the production of all large bulbs. 

 * Compare the figin-os of Ifansoni and Spcciosum, pages 109 and 110^ 



