HERBS, TUBEES AK^D BULBS. 



335 



The old bulbs may be partly divided -vrith the point of a knife, cnttlng 

 around and at some distance from each eye, found on the top and sides 

 of the bulbs ; this wUl allow the bulb to expand or spread apai-t as 

 growth begins in spring, each bud producing a shoot or plant. This 

 cutting of the upper sui-face of the bulb should be done several weeks 

 before the bulbs are planted out, either in frames or the open ground. 

 Sepai'attag the bulbs into as many pieces as there are eyes is another 



Fig. 110. — GLADI0LD3 BULB WITH ROOTS CHANGED TO LEAVES. 



mode, but there is danger of the smaller pieces rotting it planted out in 

 cold soil, and the better way is to plant them in shallow boxes of light 

 soil or sand, and keep them in a greenhouse until late in spring, and 

 then transfer to the garden. The roots of the Gladiohis may also be 

 made to change into sprouts, as I had occasion to show in the " Ameri- 

 can Agriculturist " for June, 1869. A number of Gladiolus bulbs hav- 

 ing been left under the stage of a greenhouse during the winter, several 

 of these were turned upside down, so that the eyes or buds were ex- 



