Part IV.-MISCELLANEOUS. 



CHAPTEB I. 



PROPAGATION. 



NEARLY all bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants may be in- 

 creased by seeds, scales, or offsets. The latter is the 

 easiest method of the two, because it is possible to get 

 flowering-sized bulbs much earlier than from seeds. Bulbs, 

 as a rule, take from three to five or more years to reach 

 their flowering age, whereas offsets may be had in flower 

 when a couple of years old or so. In the case of 

 hyacinths, tulips, and crocuses, these hardly pay the small 

 grower to rear from seed, as far better bulbs, reared by 

 skilled experts in soil specially adapted for the purpose, 

 are to be obtained at a cheap rate every year from 

 Holland. 



By Seeds. The first consideration is the seed. This 

 may be gathered from the plants when fully ripe, in which 

 case it should be sown at once. All bulbous and tuberous- 

 rooted plants do not, however, bear seeds that will ripen 

 sufficiently in this country to germinate, and, unless they 

 are fully ripe, it is a waste of time to sow them. Gene- 

 rally speaking, the seed-pods should be gathered when 

 they assunae a brownish tinge and begin to open, Then 



