and Fimdions of Bulbs in general. 



453 



intended to be developed in the next growth. There are like- 

 wise various marks scattered all over the bulb, without regular 

 order, and of different sizes, formed of very fine coats, and con- 

 taining small germs, which are developed according to the 

 quantity of nourishment received by the parent bulb; and which 

 sometimes may, perhaps, become abortive when the parent bulb 

 is too small to afford them support. 



The bulb, if cut open while in this dormant state, only pre- 

 sents a homogeneous milk-white mass, the organisation of which 

 is not visible. 



When it begins to vecetate, it sends out circumferential fibrous 

 roots, and developes one or more germs, which increase nito one 

 or more little bundles, each formed of a sheath, enclosing leaves, 

 and the largest containing, also, the flower. These little bundles 

 have a slight expansion at their base ; which, being cut through 

 lengthwise, discovers a smaller bulb, surrounded by coats, the 

 outer of which proceed from the sheaths above mentioned, and 

 the inner ones from the bases of the leaves, and both, combined, 

 forming a small solid substance. 



I?, when the vegetation has considerably advanced (say about 

 a mondi after flowering), these small bulbs'" are again cut through, 

 and a part of the large bulb from which they sprang is included 

 in the section, the portion where the coats terminate will be found 

 very much increased in size, and also divided into two parts of 

 different substances (see fig. 73.); 

 one of which, the germ (c), is almost 

 of a conical figure, with its base 

 uppermost : it has in its centre 

 one or more tubercles ; and its 

 point,penetratingdownwards,ter- 

 minates towards the centre of the 

 old bulb at^ where it joinsa simi- 

 lar part, proceeding from each of 

 the offsets, and whence the cir- 

 cumferential roots (^^) have their 

 origin. This germ is of a yel- 

 lowish colour, and fibrous struc- 

 ture, and forms the central and 

 lower part of the little bulb, or 

 base of the flower sheath, which 

 forms above the large bulb. From the structure of this part, 

 its position, and the circumferential and fusiform roots (which 

 will be described presently) proceeding from it, I consider 

 it as the vital speck, or germ, of the little bundle, or sheath, 

 which springs from its upper part. The other portion {d), which 

 remains to be described, has the appearance of the old bulb ; 

 being of a milk-white colour, and of a homogeneous texture, ex- 



