HERBS, TUBERS AKD BULBS. 



325 



The old bulbs may be partly divided with the point of a knife, cutting 

 around and at some distance from each eye, found on the top and sides 

 of the bulbs ; this will allow the bulb to expand or spread apart as 

 growth begins in spring, each bud producing a shoot or plant. This 

 cutting of the upper surface of the bulb should be done several weeks 

 before the bulbs are planted out, either in frames or the open ground. 

 Separating the bulbs into as many pieces as there are eyes is another 



Fig. 110. GLADIOLUS BULB WITH ROOTS CHANGED TO LEAVES. 



mode, but there is danger of the smaller pieces rotting if planted out in 

 cold soil, and the better way is to plant them in shallow boxes of light 

 soil or sand, and keep them in a greenhouse until late in spring, and 

 then transfer to the garden. The roots of the Gladiolus may also be 

 made to change into sprouts, as I had occasion to show in the " Ameri- 

 can Agriculturist" for June, 1869. A number of Gladiolus bulbs hav- 

 ing been left under the stage of a greenhouse during the winter, several 

 of these were turned upside down, so that the eyes or buds were ex- 



