8 INTRODUCTION. 



uninjured, and both contain the pre- requisites of 

 perfect plants. The stem-bulbs of the lilly, as 

 they take the usual place of buds, may very 

 naturally be considered as such. 



Bulbs and buds may therefore be considered 

 as synonymous. The first only requires to be 

 placed in the soil to produce a perfect plant ; the 

 second to be inserted into the bark of another 

 tree by the skill of the inoculator, whence it is 

 developed in perfect form. 



Other instances of aerial bulbs appear on the 

 tree onion, and on several others of the same 

 tribe. These, however, are no other than the 

 seeds commencing growth before they are sepa- 

 rated from the seed-vessel. Though this vivi- 

 parous property is constantly seen among the 

 onion tribe, and particularly in moist seasons, 

 it is also casually observed in other kinds of 

 plants ; even common wheat will sometimes 

 f^prout before it is perfectly ripe. 



But the most remarkable instance of the for- 

 mation of bulbs is that mentioned in the Trans- 

 actions of the Horticultural Society, stating, 



