COMMERCIAL, DUTCH-BULB CULTURE. 



25 



and prevent the growth of molds. As soon as the bulbs have been 

 prepared by these methods they are placed in a room in which the 

 temperature and moisture are under control. Some withhold heat 

 for a time, simply keeping the bulbs in atmospheric temperatures; 

 others apply a little heat immediately ; but in either case a compara- 

 tively dry atmosphere is essential until the cut surfaces are call used. 

 This takes from 10 days to two weeks. Too rapid desiccation during 

 this period, however, must be avoided, or the center of the bulb will 

 be injured. After callusing, the bulbs are kept in an artificial tem- 

 perature and a high hmnidity for about three months. The tempera- 

 ture will vary widely, between 70° and 90° F., the object being to get 

 a maximum development of bulblets without causing the bulbs to be 

 forced into excessive leaf growth. 



It is a common practice to bury the scored bulbs under ordinary 



field conditions for 10 days or two weeks and then bring them into 



the propagating house 



(fig. 16). 



At the end of the 

 period of incubation, 

 which will be early 

 October, the propa- 

 gated bulbs are plant- 

 ed in the same way 

 as untreated bulbs. 



The rate of increase 

 will vary not only 



with the method of ^^^- ^^- — scored hyacinth bulbs set in the open ground 



ready to be covered with earth preparatory to being 

 cutting the bulbs, but propagated in ten days or two weeks. 



also with the variety. Scooping gives a comparatively large 

 number of uniform small bulblets, while the scored method pro- 

 duces a smaller number of bulblets much less uniform in size but 

 much larger. The former method is much more favored on account 

 of the more uniform progeny, but it requires a longer time to bring 

 the bulblets to maturity. In practice, all bulbs with perfect round 

 bases are scooped, while those of such a character that they would 

 not hold together if the bases were cut out are scored. In scored 

 bulbs an average of 15 bulblets would be considered satisfactory, as 

 would 35 in scooped bulbs, but the number of bulblets may run as high 

 as 30 with the former and 60 to 100 with the latter treatment. 



One decided advantage of scooping is its usefulness in detecting 

 diseases. By this method the base of each scale of the bulb is exposed 

 to a clear view when the basal plate of the bulb is scooped out. If any 

 doubt exists after this it is customary to nose the bulb also. This con- 

 sists in cutting off a small portion of the tip of the bulb as well, thus 



126953°— 19- 



