Bulbs and their Cultivation. 



Part I. -HARDY BULBS. 



CHAPTER I. 



BULBS, CORMS AND TUBERS. 



IN the various chapters in this work frequent use of the 

 terms bulb, corm, and tuber has been made in connection 

 with cultural and other details. The experienced gar- 

 dener and the botanist know, of course, precisely what 

 these terms mean, and to what genera of plants they 

 strictly apply. Not so, however, those who have had 

 little experience of gardening and botany, and, as this 

 work is primarily intended for the latter class, it is de- 

 sirable that we should give a brief explanation of each 

 term. 



What is a Bulb? A bulb may be defined as a modi- 

 fied underground stem surrounded at its base with fleshy 

 scales rolled round each other, as in the case of the hya- 

 cinth, or overlapping, as in a lily bulb. The scales are 

 really modified leaves, and their office is to hold food in 



