PROPAGATION BY BUDS LAYERAGE 73 



109. Bulbs are of three classes : a, scaly (lily) ; b, tuni- 

 cate or laminate (onion, hyacinth) ; c, solid (crocus, gla- 

 diolus). Botanically the last are called corms. 



110. Scaly bulbs (Fig. 63) are composed of loose, thick- 

 ened scales which, after the bulb has flowered, may sep- 

 arate in the soil and form new but little bulbs. Ad- 

 vantage is taken of this in propagation. 



111. Easter lily "bulb propagation from seeds, experimentally, on 

 the Pacific Coast has been found to be quicker than from scales or 

 even smaller bulbs. Under favorable conditions plants will give 

 salable bulbs the first year. The usual sizes secured are five to seven 

 inches, but a considerable percentage of seven to nine is common 

 where good attention is given. The crop ripens in early August. 



In the Easter lily industry of Bermuda many scales accidentally 

 broken from the bulbs in digging and handling take root without 

 any care and produce bulbs. The growers rarely take advantage of 

 this method of propagation because enough bulblets are produced 

 to supply the needs of planting. Where the plan is employed, as 



FIG. 65 KNIFE USED TO "SCOOP" HYACINTH BULBS 



with rare or costly species and varieties, from a dozen to two dozen 

 of the looser, thicker outside scales are gently cut in mid-autumn 

 to mid-winter from the hard base of the bulb, which thus does 

 not cease to be useful for replanting. 



These scales are thrust an inch deep in light, sandy loam in a 

 propagating frame or flats or pots and treated like cuttings. 



Damp sphagnum is sometimes used instead of soil. If the soil 

 is kept slightly moist and the temperature under 60 but not below 

 45, some hardy and half hardy species will form bulblets in a month 

 or even less; others require three months or more. Tender species 

 often seem to need a little bottom heat. 



If conditions have been favorable and the scales fully "ripe" when 

 planted one or more bulblets should have developed at the base of 

 each scale. If the planting has been done late, the flats or pots may 

 be placed in a shaded frame outdoors in spring and left there during 

 summer, or the bulblets may be potted as soon as they have rooted 

 and later transplanted in nursery beds. The scales of hardy species 

 are usually left in the flats or outdoor frames all summer and 

 mulched over the following winter. In the second spring they are 



