20 WHAT ARE BULBS? 



until they begin to turn brown and wither, which is a sure 

 sign the circulation of the sap has ceased ; and then they 

 will readily come away from the bulb. 



As our present treatise is for popular gardening, we shall 

 include under the general name of bulbs many true tubers, 

 to which the general rules of bulb-culture are applicable. 

 All bulbs require a season of rest : this takes place after 

 the plant has produced its bloom, stored up the nourishment 

 for the growth of the coming year, and ripened its seed. 

 The foliage turns yellow, and falls off (except in the case of 

 evergreen bulbs, which preserve them green, but without 

 growth) ; and the bulb, save its fresh, plump appearance, 

 preserves no sign of vitality. This season of rest varies 

 greatly in time and duration ; in some being very short, in 

 others very long. In some, we can change it indefinitely ; 

 as gardeners say, the bulb " forces well," that is, may be 

 forced into bloom at any season : while others " force 

 badly ; " that is, can only be had in perfection at certain 

 seasons. 



Bulbs which flower in early spring, such as crocus, 

 Persian iris, frittelaria, snowdrop, tulip, and hyacinth, 

 rest from June or July until October, when their roots 

 begin to grow ; but the leaves do not appear until the next 



