26 BULLETIN 1082, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The crates should be constructed so that a definite number of 

 sacks will fit snugly. (PL XIV, Fig. 2.) 



IMPORTANCE OF CLOSELY SIZING MERCHANTABLE STOCK. 



The value of bulbous stock is dependent in a very large measure 

 upon its uniformity of performance under either forcing or bedding 

 use. One of the most important factors governing this uniformity 

 is the size of bulbs. It is consequently important that the merchant- 

 able stocks be closely sized, for the effectiveness of the planting de- 

 pends upon having the plants alike, the flowers uniform, and the time 

 of flowering the same. 



SIZES. 



Tulip bulbs are measured in a rather peculiar way, from the Amer- 

 ican viewpoint. We speak, for instance, of a 12-centimeter bulb, 

 meaning presumably that the bulb measm^es 12 centimeters in cir- 

 cumference, but it seldom does, o-wing to its angularity. Although 

 we speak of sizes in circumferences, it is after all diameter that is 

 measured, because the size of a tulip bulb is the periphery of a circle 

 whose diameter is equal to the greatest diameter of the bulb. The 

 bulb cahper (PL X, Figs. 1 and 2) is a round hole. Bulbs which pass 

 through an 11-centimeter orifice or screen and are caught by a 10- 

 centimeter screen are called 10 to 11 centimeter bulbs, although the 

 individuals may differ widely in actual quantity of material. This 

 is probably as fair a method as any for measuring such irregular 

 objects. 



The sizers are usually so built that sizes varying 1 centimeter in 

 circumference may be sieved out. It is then possible to recognize as 

 many sizes as there are unit centimeters between the smallest and 

 largest size of tulip bulb, or about 12 sizes. In practice, however, 

 the commercial tulip is sorted into two or three sizes, usually referred 

 to as first, second, and third grades or sizes, though the mechanical 

 sizing of tulips has no element of grading in it. Grading is done by 

 culling by hand all imperfect bulbs. Having picked out his commer- 

 cial sizes, which are mostly above 10 centimeters, the grower resorts 

 to a sizing of the remaining bulbs for his planting stock. It will be 

 seen that the bulk of the Bureau of Plant Industry planting stock 

 runs 8, 7, 5, and under 5 centimeters. The 5-centimeter size really 

 extends from 5 to just below 7 centimeters. 



It should be noted that a sizer in the form of a grating (PL XV, Fig. 

 2) will not give the same results as one having round openings for the 

 bulbs to pass through (PL X, Fig. 3). In the one case the greatest 

 diameter governs and in the other, the shortest. 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



With objects of such variable dimensions as tulip bulbs it is mani- 

 festly as impossible to arrive at absolute accuracy in connection with 



