PRODUCTION OF TULIP BULBS. 23 
off the solid benches the shovel must have its handle shortened, 
and sometimes the edges are turned up a little and also the shank 
straightened out, so that it can be operated more advantageously 
in a smaller space. There is no need to injure bulbs with this tool. 
The container scoops (PI. XIII, Fig. 1) are homemade and con- 
structed in various sizes for different purposes. Where the bulb 
house is equipped with solid benches close together, this is the only 
container that can be employed to advantage to load the benches. 
For this purpose large scoops holding half a bushel are used. Smaller 
scoops are made for pouring bulbs into pails or bags. The advantage 
of the scoop over a pail lies in the fact that in transferring bulbs to 
another receptacle they are not dropped so far from a scoop as from 
a pail or box. 
A convenient table is 4 feet wide for large operations and of any 
desirable length (PI. VIII, Fig. 2). It is made tight and smooth 
with a 1 to 1 i inch edge rail. Sections of this rail at suitable dis- 
tances are detachable, to facilitate the removal of small bulbs or dirt 
from the table. The cleaner, when he has accumulated a pile of small 
bulbs on the table beside him, can remove a foot-long section of the 
edge rail and scrape them into a scoop, tub, or basket, to be taken 
away. 
It is convenient to have one or two movable partitions (two are 
shown in PI. VIII, Fig. 2), which can be moved along, as occasion 
requires, to accommodate and separate more than one variety on the 
table at one time. This is simply a board fitting loosely but so close 
that no bulbs go through between it and the edge rails on either side. 
Into each end is fitted a small piece of board at right angles, to hold 
it upright. 
Occasionally it will be found that the general plan for cleaning out- 
lined above can be advantageously modified; for varieties differ and 
stocks of the same variety will vary from one year to another, accord- 
ing to methods of culture, seasonal variation, and other causes. 
Should tulips for any reason be left undug, there is always a tendency 
to a multiplicity of small bulbs, which is also likely when a general 
lack of fertility obtains over a period of years. In such cases it may 
be advantageous to run the bulbs over an 8-centimeter screen before 
the large ones are picked over. 
Cleaning bulbs is work that requires great dexterity and adapta- 
bility. Some laborers perfectly good at other jobs are often unable 
to do this work advantageously. Those not initiated into the work 
have a tendency to use one hand only or to take the bulbs up in one 
hand and break them with the other. Both hands must be used 
and for the most part independently. It is work that requires good 
finger strength and consequently can not usually be done satisfac- 
torily by boys under 15 years of age. 
