SOME OTHER METHODS OF PLANT 

 PROPAGATION 



Bulbs and Corms 



Many plants are increased by means of bulbs, which 

 are a kind of underground bud, the thickened scales or 

 leaves of which are storehouses of nutriment which are 

 used by the young plant before it has produced proper 

 leaves wherewith to accumulate nourishment for itself. 

 Bulbous plants have usually long periods of inactivity, 

 and in a state of nature mostly occur in dry regions or 

 in heavily- wooded districts where active growth is 

 impossible during a great part of the year. Such plants 

 commonly multiply by means of small bulbs or bulbels 

 borne at the top or round the sides of the mother bulb. 

 Lilies, hyacinths, and onions are among the commoner 

 examples of bulbous plants. 



Corms differ from bulbs in being solid throughout, and 

 are not divisible into scales or layers as are bulbs. From 

 a gardening point of view, however, they are very 

 similar. The crocus and gladiolus are common examples 

 of corms. Bulbs are for the most part not difficult to 

 manage. Most kinds should be planted in September 

 or October — the earlier the better. Earlier flowering 

 kinds, such as snowdrops and chionadoxas, are best 

 planted about the end of August. Gladioli, however, 

 should be planted in March or April. The depth at 

 which bulbs should be planted naturally varies with the 

 nature of the bulb and the character of the soil. Small 

 bulbs and corms, such as those of the crocus, squill, 



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