16 



BULLETIN 28, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



secured from a grower in one of the Eastern States and tested at 

 Bellingham. Figure 14 graphically shows the results of the test. 



The flowers from bulbs grown at the garden for three seasons were 

 practically perfect and compared favorably with those from im- 

 ported bulbs. Mr. John W. Macrae Smith and possibly others se- 

 cured similar results with this variety in their early experiments in 

 bulb growing near Bellingham. 



Fig. 15. — American-grown and Holland-grown tulips in alternate rows on the trial 

 grounds of the United States Department of Agriculture. Beginning on the left, 

 rows 1, Kcizerskroon, :!, Pottebakkcr White, and 5, Proserpine, are from imported 

 bulbs. Rows 2, Keizerskroon, 4, Pottebakker White, 6, Proserpine, are from 

 Bellingham-grown bulbs. The bulbs from both sources were ordinary commercial 

 stock. Photographed April 20, 1911. 



PROPAGATION. 



The narcissus is propagated by seeds when it is desired to secure 

 new varieties. The commercial method of propagation of the nar- 

 cissus, however, is by offsets. The increase secured at the garden 

 varies, according to the variety, from 99 to 380 per cent, and the time 

 required to grow commercial bulbs from slabs is from three to five 

 years, depending upon the variety, the size and vigor of the offsets, 

 and the conditions under which they are grown. 



