26 



BULLETIN 797, V. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



exposing the live tissue of both ends of many of the layers. Tliis 

 gives a very effective check on both yellows and nematodes, the causes 

 of the two serious maladies of these bulbs. 



The building suitable for propagation is a simple affair in which 

 heat, moisture, and ventilation are under control. At present the 

 department's work is done in a boarcled-up room in the basement of 

 the bulb storage house, in which has been installed a hot- water heat- 

 ing system. Light seems to be a factor of little consequence, except 

 that provision should be made for good artificial light for use when 

 examining the bulbs. At present most houses in the Netherlands are 



constructed without glazing. We 

 have good success also without 

 lighting. 



The bulbs are supported upon 

 trays with wire bottoms, which 

 are arranged in racks at dis- 

 tances of about a foot apart.. 

 Chicken wire stretched over 

 frames about 3 feet square an- 

 swers the purpose very well. 

 This permits the freest circula- 

 tion of air around the bulbs. 



DETERMINATION OF FLOWER- 

 ING QUALITY. 



For our purposes a bulb may 

 be looked upon as a condensed 

 plant which contains the evi- 

 dence of its qualities within itself. 

 The grower in his planting, but more especially in his selling, must 

 be able to decide with a great deal of accuracy just what bulbs will 

 flower the succeeding year. This ability is gained very largely by 

 experience, but certain indications can be learned in the abstract. 



The bulbs of the tulip, narcissus, and hyacinth have within them, 

 perfectly formed, the flower spike for the next year's blossoms, and 

 by the sacrifice of a few bulbs one can get a very good idea of the 

 quality of the bulbs before they are planted. 



Hyacinth bulbs are utilized for ornamentation from about 12 centi- 

 meters upward, the miniatures being usually about this size. They 

 will flower at a much smaller size, but the number of bells will be 

 progressively more numerous and larger as the bulb increases in 

 growth. (Fig. 17.) 



In the case of the narcissus the varieties are so variable in the 

 size of the bulb that for the uninitiated the safest plan is always to 



Fig. 17. — A mature hyacinth bulb cut 

 open to show the well-developed flower 

 spike at the time of planting. 



