INTRODUCTION. 7 



ducing the number of parts or ramifications of a 

 plant for the benefit of the remainder, no kind of 

 mutilation can be serviceable. 



Bringing to perfection the roots, stem, leaves, 

 flowers, and the new bulb or bulbs, is the effort 

 of the radical plate every year; it being the 

 radius from which they all diverge. There they 

 previously exist, and, after complete develope- 

 ment, all but their seeds, or succession-bulbs, 

 vanish away. 



Caulinar bulbs are so called, because, instead 

 of being upon or under the surface of the ground, 

 they are produced in the air and seated on dif- 

 ferent parts of plants producing them. They are 

 frequently seen on the flower-stems of the ge- 

 nus Lilium, protruding from the axils of the 

 leaves from which they are deciduous. They 

 partake of the conformation of both seeds and 

 bulbs, possess their essentials, and become perfect 

 plants. Bulbs are said to be buds under ground ; 

 so buds may be called bulbs out of the ground. 

 There cannot be a more natural definition ; both 

 may be transferred from one station to another 



