66 ■ RECORD OF HORTICULTURE. 



reservoir of food from which the new bulb clraAvs its sus- 

 tenance until roots are produced through which it may ob- 

 tain food from the soil. Sometimes more than one bulb 

 will be produced from a single scale. In this way new 

 varieties are rapidly multiplied. The first bulb of L. aura- 

 tum which we obtained came directly from Japan, and from 

 being many months on the way, it had become very dry 

 and much shriveled; but from twenty of the outside scales 

 we i^roduced twenty-six bulbs the first summer, some of 

 them being nearly three fourths of an inch in diameter at 

 the close of the growing season. The scales will often do 

 well if planted in the open ground, but it is always best 

 to plant them in boxes or pots in the propagating-house or 

 in a hot-bed. It is also best to take up the bulbs from 

 which scales are to be taken and let them dry for a few 

 days before taking off the scales. In separating the scales, 

 insert the point of a knife at their base, and at one side 

 cutting in a circular direction. around the bulb, so that the 

 scale shall have a portion of the ligament by which it was 

 attached to the bulb remaining upon its base. This is not 

 absolutely necessary to its growth, because a scale broken 

 off will grow ; still, they grow more readily if separated 

 Avith care, and as we have directed. A large bulb may 

 be entirely dissected and all of the scales used, but usually 

 it is better to take off only a few of the outside layers, and 

 then plant tlie main bulb. 



The scales may be planted immediately in the ground, 

 or put into boxes or pots of sand and placed in a position 

 to grow. They require but very little water at first, only 

 just enough to keep them from shriveling; if kept too wet 



