DISEASES AND INSECTS. 63 



above mentioned, only they are much larger. This disease 

 generally draws the whole bulb in a slanting direction, and 

 a part of it appears as if eaten out. The bulb loses its 

 usual round form. This is similar to the disease called 

 wasting, but in a greater degree, and is with great difficulty 

 removed. It is better to throw away all bulbs attacked 

 with this disease. 



" Seventh, Excess of offsets takes place only in bulbs 

 capable of producing flowers. The offsets come out at the 

 sides or through the stool or plate, and the parent bulb 

 becomes divided into a number of young ones. 



" When this is the case, it is left exactly as it is, and 

 planted like the others ; and, although the bulb will not 

 flower, it will produce a great many young bulbs. 



"Bulbs which have been cut to eradicate disease should 

 be planted within thirty-six hours after, as a further delay 

 may be conducive to the re-appearance of disease." 



Bulbs in the open air are subject to few enemies. Crocus 

 are sometimes eaten by field-mice, and mice are also very 

 fond of tiger-flowers ; but the depredations thus committed 

 are few. 



Careful preparation of the bulb-bed, and proper planting, 

 will almost always give a fine show of bulbs in the garden. 



