PEODUCTIOX or TULIP BULBS. 23 



off the solid benches the shovel must have its handle shortened, 

 and sometimes the edges are turned up a httle and also the shank 

 straightened out, so that it can be operated more advantageously 

 in a smaller space. There is no need to injure bulbs with this tool. 



The container scoops (PI. XIII, Fig. 1) are homemade and con- 

 structed in various sizes for different purposes. Where the bulb 

 house is equipped with soHd benches close together, this is the only 

 container that can be employed to advantage to load the benches. 

 For this purpose large scoops holding hah a bushel are used. SmaUer 

 scoops are made for pouring bulbs into pails or bags. The advantage 

 of the scoop over a pail hes in the fact that in transferring bulbs to 

 another receptacle they are not dropped so far from a scoop as from 

 a pail or box. 



A convenient table is 4 feet wide for large operations and of any 

 desirable length (PI. VIII, Fig. 2). It is made tight and smooth 

 with a 1 to 1y inch edge rail. Sections of this rail at suitable dis- 

 tances are detachable, to f acihtate the removal of small bulbs or dirt 

 from the table. The cleaner, when he has accumulated a pile of smaU 

 bulbs on the table beside him, can remove a foot-long section of the 

 edge rah and scrape them into a scoop, tub, or basket, to be taken 

 away. 



It is convenient to have one or two movable partitions (two are 

 shown in PI. ^nil, Fig. 2), which can be moved along, as occasion 

 requires, to accommodate and separate more than one variety on the 

 table at one time. This is simply a board fitting loosely but so close 

 that no bulbs go through between it and the edge rails on either side. 

 Into each end is fitted a small piece of board at right angles, to hold 

 it upright. 



Occasionally it will be found that the general plan for cleaning out- 

 lined above can be advantageously modified; for varieties differ and 

 stocks of the same variety will vary from one year to another, accord- 

 ing to methods of culture, seasonal variation, and other causes. 

 Should tuhps for any reason be left undug, there is always a tendency 

 to a multiphcity of small bulbs, which is also likely when a general 

 lack of fertUity obtains over a period of years. In such cases it may 

 be advantageous to run the bulbs over an 8-centinieter screen before 

 the large ones are picked over. 



Cleaning bulbs is work that requires great dexterity and adapta- 

 bnity. Some laborers perfectly good at other jobs are often unable 

 to do this work advantageously. Those not initiated into the work 

 have a tendency to use one hand only or to take the bulbs up in one 

 hand and break them with the other. Both hands must be used 

 and for the most part independently. It is work that requires good 

 finger strength and consequently can not usually be done satisfac- 

 torily by boys under 15 years of age. 



