By the Hon. and Rev. William Herbert. 183 



or stick, without at all injuring the fibres. I do not mean, 

 that it is necessary with the hardiest sorts, such as Nerine 

 undulata, of which there may be many roots in a pot, 

 with their fibres closely matted, or Coburgia Belladonna, to 

 shake the earth entirely from them every year, but when 

 it can be done conveniently the bulbs will be more healthy in 

 consequence. All the dead parts from the neck of the bulb 

 should be pulled off, the dead fibres removed, together with 

 any decayed portion of its base, and its dead integuments 

 should be stripped off, so as to lay bare the first shining coat, 

 and that should be carefully wiped, if it appears clammy or 

 mouldy, which is very often the case. Not unfrequently 

 an extravasation of sap, or a lodgement of wet at the 

 neck of the bulb, will be found to have caused a partial 

 decay of some interior coat, while those without are sound 

 and healthful. After the removal of all that is withered, 

 that secret mischief will become visible, and the sound 

 coats must be cut freely away, for the purpose of removing 

 the internal decay, which would otherwise become fatal. 

 Whenever there is a doubt as to the necessity of removing 

 a coat from a bulb, it should be taken of! without hesitation. 

 A short exposure to the air, but not to the sun, will be 

 useful, if the bulbs are either clammy or mouldy. They 

 should be carefully repotted, separating the fibres without 

 straining them, and bringing some of them to the side of 

 the pot, and pouring in the earth (which should be well 

 pulverized and moderately moist, but by no means wet) so 

 as to divide them ; for, if they be all squeezed together, or 

 forced into an unnatural posture, they will decay. The 

 bulbs should be left for a while without any water, in a warm 



