380 



Answers to Queries, and Queries. 



of planting, coming from the centre of the bulb, the flower-stems, on tak- 

 ing them up, are found issuing from the bottom. This circumstance, which 

 at first appears remarkable, will be found, on consideration, to be easily ac- 

 counted for, by the fact of the formation of a new bulb every year at the 

 base of the flower-stem, and consequently the disappearance of the old one. 

 In what manner this is effected, I will presently show. This new bulb 

 exists in the centre of the old one at the time it is planted, having been 

 formed in the preceding year's growth, and may plainly be seen by dissect- 

 ing a tulip-root in the autumn, when the entire future plant, its leaves, stem, 

 and flower with its six petals, stamina and seed-vessel, will be found in the cen- 

 tre of the root, coiled up into a shape resembling that of a segar, and about an 

 inch long, (more or less, according to the size of the root,) and at the base of 

 this embryo plant precisely in the situation represented in your corres- 

 pondent's drawing, will be found the bulb for the next year, then the size 

 of a small offset. The old bulb, which is merely a collection of juicy coats, 

 formed for the protection of the embryo plant which it envelopes, having 

 sustained it with its moisture during the time of its being out of the ground 

 in a state of rest, and having parted with its succulency to nourish the 

 embryo plant and new bulb during their growth when planted, is found at 

 taking-up time deprived of its moisture, and transformed into the brown 

 coats enveloping the new bulb, now grown to its full size, furnished with a 

 similar embryo plant and bulb for the next year, and found in the situation 

 represented in S.'s drawing. [' This embryo bulb is formed by the returning 

 sap, and when this is in excess, an offset, and sometimes several, will be 

 found in addition to the principal bulb.' — {M.)~\ 



" S. would find much pleasure in dissecting a tulip root. The coats 

 should be removed with care, otherwise the little bulb and offsets, if any, 

 in the interior may be destroyed. The best time for doing it is late in the 

 autumn, as the embryo plant is then more plainly developed by the sap 

 being in motion. I dissected a root this day, having a few discarded ones 

 unset, and afterwards divided the little bulb, which would have been the 

 one for planting in Nov. 1827, and by taking it close to the window, but 

 without a microscope, thought I could perceive the embryo plant for 1828. 

 The possibility of this will probably be doubted. A few months, however, 

 will place the means of proving it in your reader's hands. I think with the 

 aid of a microscope my supposition will be found correct. I am, Sir, &c. 

 " Sheffield, J an. 8. 1827. John Ward." 



Several other Answers to the query of S. have been received ; one by 

 Thomas Butler, Esq. was accompanied by a draw- 

 ing, {fig. 102.), in which may be seen the embryo 

 flower of the current year, with the embrj'o bulb 

 at its base. Mr. B. informs us that he cultivates 

 at his residence, Cornwall Cottage, Hackney, 

 nearly 500 of the most choice varieties of tulip, 

 and that he intends figuring all the finest sorts in 

 cultivation in a periodical publication, to be com- 

 menced in March next. We have seen the 

 drawings which he has prepared for this work, 

 which are equal to any thing of the kind. 



Mr. French, (p. 120), an accurate and intelli- 

 gent observer, says " what is by people in general 

 called the tulip root, is nothing more than the 

 bud, or embryo of the plant placed on the proper 

 root ; when this bud or bulb shoots into a plant, 

 other buds or bulbs, sometimes one, and some- 

 times more, are formed at the base of the leaves, 

 as in other herbaceous plants having buds or bulbs, 

 and as in deciduous trees. The curious part of 



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