10 



BULLETIN 28, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The scored mother bulbs are treated and handled in practically the 

 same way as those that are scooped. Some growers prefer to place 

 the scored mother bulbs out of doors and cover them with about 6 

 inches of soil, where they are left for about six weeks. They are then 

 uncovered, and after drying for about a day are brought into the 

 propagating house and given practically the same treatment as the 

 scooped mother bulbs. 



The time required to mature bulbs by this method is from three to 

 five years, depending upon the variety, the size and strength of the 

 bulblets, and the conditions under which they are grown. During the 

 period when the young bulblets are being produced as a result of 



scooping and scor- 

 ing, the greatest care 

 must be taken to pro- 

 tect them from in- 

 jury from dampness, 

 cold, heat, disease, 

 etc. 



STOCK MOTHER BULBS. 



The stock of mother 

 hyacinth bulbs for 

 use at the Belling- 

 ham garden is im- 

 ported annually and 

 will have to be until 

 the home-grown stock 

 from the first propa- 

 gation made at the 

 garden in 1909 

 reaches maturity ; 

 this under normal 

 conditions will be 



Fig. 10. — One of the first beds of scooped mother bulbs of 

 the hyacinth planted at the United States Bulb Garden. 

 Photographed in October, 1009. 



from one to three years hence. It has not been possible to have the 

 imported bulbs delivered at the Bellingham garden until some time 

 in October, which is entirely too late for scooping and scoring that 

 season. This necessitates growing them one season. They are there- 

 fore planted, as soon as possible after being received, in beds 36 inches 

 wide and of any desired length. The soil is spaded out of the first 

 bed, and the bulbs are placed about 4 to G inches apart in rows G to 8 

 inches apart across the bed and covered to a depth of 3 or 4 inches 

 with soil from the adjacent bed. This process is continued until the 

 bulbs are all planted. 



