THE MADONNA LILY 8 
rally to bulblets, which “ grow up” in two or three years. Division 
of bulbs is the method of reproduction which has been generally 
employed in this country by growers who have not been sufficiently 
venturesome to try other methods. It is very efficient, at best only 
moderately rapid, but not quick enough for the commercial grower. 
PROPAGATION BY SCALES 
Propagation by scales (PI. I, fig. 1) is very much to be preferred to 
all other methods, as it is very rapid and certain if properly applied. 
Only the older, outer, thick, heavy scales are employed. The younger, 
tender, smaller ones in the inside of the bulb should not be removed, 
because in the first place they have not substance enough to propagate 
well, and in the second place they are needed to protect the growing 
point (center) of the old bulb. The bulbs are reduced in size to about 
14 centimeters (5.51 inches) in circumference by the removal of scales. 
‘These scaled bulbs are then entirely satisfactory for planting again 
and will grow to maximum Size in two years. Some of the bulbs so 
treated, in addition to breaking up into two or three by division, will 
sometimes form bulblets on the old scale bases and on the plate of 
the mother bulb. 
As soon as convenient after the scales are broken off from the 
bulbs, and always within a few days, they should be planted. The 
writer’s favorite method is to open up a bed in Dutch fashion. The 
soil is removed from a 3-foot bed to a depth of about 2 inches. The 
scales are then distributed in rows 6 inches apart and about 1 inch 
apart in the row. When the bed is planted the scales are covered 
with the soil removed in opening the next bed to the same depth. 
It should be emphasized that the planting of scales should be shal- 
low. Under any condition 2 inches is deep enough, and 11% inches if 
on a heavy loam. 
The time at which the scales should be planted is very important. 
The operation should be early. One should not hesitate to dig the 
plants when in full blossom. Indeed, this is the best time to do the 
propagating, because then the long warm season is ahead to give a 
long incubation period for the development of the bulblets to a size 
which will enable them to throw up green leaves in the fall before it 
gets too cold. At least one should not wait long after the flowers 
have faded but should get the bulbs up and the scales planted as 
soon as possible. 
The danger in the late planting of the scales hes in the fact that 
the season for the proper development of the bulblets is shortened. 
This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest, where the seasons 
are short, and if the planting there is delayed for six weeks the cold 
wet weather comes on and the scales, instead of producing bulblets, 
start to rot at the base and along their edges to such an extent as 
often to be almost, if not quite, a complete failure. 
One should not make the mistake of attempting to keep the scales 
wet enough for ordinary plant growth. If planted in the open 
ground they should be quite dry for a month or six weeks at least. 
On Puget Sound the soil in the field is usually in suitable condition 
for this propagation in July and August. In the eastern United States 
and other regions where the summers are likely to be wet it is usually 
