24 WHAT ARE BULBS? 



inches distant. This is an additional reason for occasion- 

 ally taking up all bulbs, as many are annually lost from a 

 want of this simple precaution. Another reason is, that 

 the bulb, if left in the ground, is often too early stimulated 

 into growth. If, however, we do not care for the finest 

 bloom, but are content with a good display, all common 

 hardy bulbs may be left in the ground undisturbed for three 

 or four years, if once carefully planted. 



Bulbs are propagated by offsets, or small bulbs, which 

 are produced at the base of the root, or parent bulbs, 

 and in the axils of the leaves, and occasionally as flower- 

 buds, and which soon produce flowering plants. They are 

 also raised from seed, which, however, seldom produces a 

 flowering plant in less than three years. The scaly bulbs 

 may be propagated by planting the scales in sand ; each 

 scale, in time, producing a new bulb. Hyacinths, gladiolus, 

 and some other bulbs, are occasionally increased by cutting 

 the old bulb into pieces ; each portion being forced to put 

 forth a new shoot and roots. The two former methods are 

 those used by Nature : the latter we owe to the skill of the 

 gardener. 



All bulbs are monocotyledons or endogens : that is, the 

 embryo, or cotyledon, has but one leaf, and the leaves are 



