2 6 THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



may be separated and treated as complete bulbs for purposes of 

 propagation. This division or separation of bulbs proceeds in a 

 different manner in nearly every species, yet it is so obvious that 

 the novice need not be perplexed by it. Almost any breaking 

 apart of these loose bulbs, if only a "heart" or central axis 

 remains in each portion, is successful for purposes of slow mul- 

 tiplication ; but when flowers are desired it is usually inad- 

 visable. 



Bulbous plants multiply most easily by means of bulbels 

 often also called bulbules and offsets or small bulbs which are 

 borne about a large or mother bulb. In some lilies, as Lilium 

 candidum, the bulbels form at the top or crown of the mother 

 bulb, and a circle of roots will be found between them and the 

 bulb ; in others, as L. speciosum and L. auratum, they form on 

 the lower part of the flower stalk. In some species the 

 bulbels are few and very large, or even single, and they bloom 

 the following year. In such cases the bulb undergoes a pro- 

 gressive movement from year to year after the manner of root- 

 stocks, the bulb of one year forming a 'more or less distinct 

 one above and beyond it which continues the species, while the 

 old one becomes weak or dies. This method of bulb formation 

 is seen in the cut of Lilium pardalinum, Fig. n. In the hya- 

 cinth the bulbels form at the base of the bulb. 



Bulbels vary greatly in size and 

 frequency in different species. Some- 

 times they are no larger than a grain 

 of wheat, and in other plants they 

 are as large as hickory-nuts. In some 

 species they are borne habitually un- 

 derneath the scales of the mother 

 bulb. These bulbels are often re- 

 moved when the mother bulbs are 

 taken up, and they are usually planted 

 Fig. ii. Bulb of Lilium parda- in essentially the same manner as the 

 linum. bulbs themselves, although it is de- 



sirable to place them, at least for the first year, in a bed or 

 border by themselves. Or if they are especially small and deli- 



