LECT. IV.] THE ROOT. BULBS. 177 



before a flower bulb is produced. It may seem ex- 

 traordinary that no formation of young bulbs oc- 

 curs on the scales individually, when they are al- 

 lowed to remain attached to the old bulb ; but 

 when we consider that in this case their vital 

 energy, and the nutriment they contain, are ex- 

 hausted in supplying the growing plant, and aid- 

 ing the formation of its lateral progeny ; and 

 that, on the contrary, when a scale is separated, 

 the formation of the new tyulb is merely the em- 

 ployment of the same agencies, which would have 

 acted simultaneously with the other scales had 

 the separated scale been left in its original 

 state, only differently directed, the explanation is 

 obvious. Another question, however, arises on 

 this point. If, as has been stated, the young 

 bulb be the production of the joint action of the 

 bulb and the plant, how is the bulb on the solitary 

 scale formed ? I confess my inability to solve this 

 question ; and can only remark, that the bulb 

 formed on the separated scale is, comparatively, a 

 very imperfect being; and the formation of a 

 series of bulbs in a direct line from it, each pro- 

 gressively more perfect than its precursor, is 

 requisite before a bulb can be produced as perfect 

 as that one, which is the effect of the joint func- 

 tions of the plant and of the vipe or adult bulb : 

 and in this progression to perfection the plant 

 of each season necessarily plays its part. 



VOL. I. N 



