6 THE BOOK OF BULBS 



the bulbs, or scooping out the interior, afterwards 

 allowing the wounds to callous partially. Young bulbs 

 are produced at the wounded parts. Raising bulbs 

 from seeds, although slow, is very interesting work, and 

 ought to be more largely followed for the purpose of 

 obtaining new varieties. Seeds are sown in the ordinary 

 way in pans, and the young bulbs grown on until they 

 attain flowering size, generally from two to five years, 

 according to the genus and the treatment they receive. 

 Liliums are also propagated by scales of the bulbs, 

 inserted in pots or pans, with a portion of the base 

 attached. These will eventually form little bulbs, to 

 be grown on as in the case of seedlings. Tuberous- 

 rooted plants, like the Anemone, are propagated by 

 division of the tubers. 



DISEASES OF BULBS 



These plants are subject to a variety of diseases, such 

 as always appear among plants grown in large numbers 

 together. The leading genera, such as the Lilium, the 

 Iris, the Gladiolus, or the Hyacinth, are all affected, 

 and although many remedies have been tried it is difficult 

 to find a cure. I find Veltha gives good results, but 

 where the disease cannot be exterminated by such means 

 it is better to destroy all affected plants, and to give the 

 others fresh soil. A surface dressing of new soil with a 

 little kainit added is beneficial. 



