HYACINTH CULTURE AT HAARLEM 133 



when it begins to take the suberous quality which distin- 

 guishes the leaves from the bulb substance, and so the tunics, 

 as far upwards as they partake of the bulb substance, possess 

 the same capacity of producing young bulbs, which grow 

 from them in the same manner as from the base. 



Some gardeners, in order to multiply their bulbs more 

 rapidly, perform the following operation : with the point 

 of a penknife they cut into the base of the bulb (the point 

 turned upwards and inwards), turning the knife round inside 

 the bulb, the base is cut out (with crown and centre) in the 

 shape of a cone — the upper portion forming a concave, 

 exactly fitting the convex of the base (which is the interior 

 which has been separated by the knife). 



The separated base forms no stem the first year, and the 

 inner tunic leaves (fans) are little and poor, and seem hardly 

 to have strength to grow, but they form themselves into 

 tunics quite well, and are grown enough by the following 

 year to cover the stem, which, however, is not quite developed 

 as it should be till the third year — then it is as good as any 

 other of its species. The inferior or lower part scarcely ever 

 produces young bulbs after it is cut from the rest. 



The two parts of the bulb should be carefully put into 

 very dry sand, covering them about two inches— they must be 

 left some little while exposed to the sun, which would burn 

 them if not well covered with sand : they must then be put 

 in a window or in some place where they are well preserved 

 from damp ; they are thus left for four or five weeks — the 

 superior part turned top upwards — the under part anyhow, 

 it is a matter of indifference how it is placed. In four 

 or five weeks' time the upper portion has developed such 

 a number of young bulbs that they are injuring one another. 



The baby bulbs are by this time perfectly formed, and 

 one can count their leaves or tunic leaves (fans), six or more, 

 and each possesses its stem. 



