AND THEIR CULTURE. 189> 



seen that the cells in the scales have become emptied of their contents,. 

 and are now soft and flabby, the old roots being 1 dead or dying. The- 

 scales then dry up, and the parent bulb entirely perishes, leaving 1 it to the- 

 successional bulb to go through the same course the next season."* 

 Garden, vol. 13, p. 592. 



CORE OR CENTRAL Axis. 



6. " If we take a Lily bulb in the autumn, and cut it in two, right down-, 

 from the apex to the base, it will be observed that it is composed of a 

 core or fleshy part (central avis, Baker), more or less conical in the upper 

 portion, and truncated below. This core gives rise, at its upper face, to- 

 fleshy scales, pressing one against the other, and to a central short stem 

 (formed of leaves and rudimentary flowers), whilst from its lower face- 

 spring the root fibres. These root fibres, will be seen to emanate from 

 the base of the stem itself and pass down through the core or fleshy part,* 

 thus preserving a distinct connection between the stem and the roots, 

 without interfering with the scales of the bulb, for these scales, if carefully 

 picked off will be seen to have no connection whatever with the root 

 fibres. The bulb itself, composed of the scales, is in fact, nothing more or 

 less than the cradle, or nursery of the legitimate seed-bud, which imbibes- 

 its nourishments from the scales, through the core, until it has grown aiidi 

 become a fully developed bulb, capable of emitting a flower stem the next 

 year." Garden, vol. 13, p. 142. 



7. "I have in my garden, a bulb of Croceum, the progenitor of which I 

 planted 35 years ago. During all these years I have watched this plant 

 with more than ordinary interest, and, as I lifted and replanted it every 

 year, I found that the fading flower stem was always attached to the 

 fading parent bulb, and not to the new bulb, which appeared every 

 succeeding year fresh, clean, plump, and crisp, with the scales firmly and 

 closely set upon one another, while the scales of the parent bulb were 

 discoloured, loose, and flabby. How far back the pedigree of this bulb 

 could be traced, it is difficult to say, though, I believe, I could get evidence- 

 of 10 years more to add to the 35." Garden, vol. ]2, p. 557. 



* This is surely incorrect, and would seem to imply that the central axis takes no- 

 part in the vital action, but that the roots proceed from the base of the stern through, and 

 independently of the central axis, to collect nourishment for the leaves and flowers. "We 

 have pointed out before (page 4), that the upper set of roots formed in early summer at 

 the base of the stem and above the bulb, provide support and nourishment for the stem, 

 leaves and flowers, and that the lower set of roots emanating from the base of the bulb 

 in autumn, provide nutriment for the bulb itself, and its requirements. Moreover, these 

 last roots are active during the winter and spring months, at a time when the stem is in 

 embryo ; they are continued upwards throughout the central axis, like the parietal 

 divisions of an orange, and in spring when the stem is emitted, are continued upwards 

 inside it. Such being the facts, we think impartial observers will consider the central 

 axis or core to be the true fons ct origo vitcc, emitting roots beneath, scales laterally, and 

 last of all a stem above. This central axis we have always considered to be the centre- 

 of the life of the bulb ; scales, roots, and stem, being adjuncts, and all capable of removal, 

 and of reproduction by the action of the core itself. Whereas, in the absence of a core-, 

 neither roots or stem would live, and scales would have to reproduce an embryo bulb 

 themselves, and perish in the act. But Dunedin, throughout his writings, discards the 

 core from consideration, and if mentioned at all, as above, it is evidently looked upon 

 as playing a very inferior part in the economy of bulb life. 



