CHAPTER IX 

 Bulbous Plants 



The term bulbous plants is generally applied indiscriminately 

 to plants having thickened subterranean stems, such as Crocus and 

 Gladiolus, including true bulbs, such as those of Lilium, Hyacinthus 

 and Allium. A true bulb is simply a resting bud composed of leaf 

 scales, as in Lilium, or partly formed by the bases of the leaves of 

 the previous season's growth, as in the Hyacinthus and Onion. A 

 corm differs from a bulb in having the interior part solid; examples. 

 Crocus and Gladiolus. A tuber is a swollen underground stem pro- 

 vided with latent buds, as in the Potato. The thickened tuber-like 

 roots of the Dahlia are simply reservoirs of nutriment, and are 

 known as tubercles or tuberous roots. Terrestrial Orchids supply 

 numerous other examples. 



Outdoor Bulbs. Hyacinth and Tulip bulbs flowered out of 

 doors may be made to last more than one season if the bulbs are 

 given a little care. By the end of May, when the bulbs have to be 

 lifted to make room for Summer plants, the fohage will indicate 

 maturity by turning yellow. After lifting, the bulbs should not be 

 allowed to lie around with the old leaves rotting over them. Spread 

 them out on boards in an airy shed, so that they may have a chance 

 to get plump and dry; after which they should be cleaned, stored 

 and when the time arrives replanted for outdoor ornamentation. 

 Low-growing hardy Spring bulbs, such as Galanthus (Snowdrop), 

 Crocus, Scilla pracox, TecophUcea cyanocrocus, Triteleia uniflora, 

 Puschkinia and Chionodoxa, should be planted as soon as they are 

 procured from the dealers. If put in late they bloom late and 

 their foliage does not get time to ripen before the advent of real 

 warm weather, and the bulb for the following season is next to use- 

 less. None of the latter is much used by florists for pot culture. In 

 planting out they should, if possible, be given permanent positions. 

 Sometimes Fall and Winter weather is favorable to premature 

 growth of the tops, and because of this they should be protected 

 from rapid thawing and freezing by a covering of an inch or two 

 of half-decayed leaves or manure put on after freezing weather 

 arrives. 



