8 
BULLETIN 28, L r . S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
By this method the base of the mature or so-called mother bulb is 
scooped out so as to expose the lower part of the scales just a little 
Fig. 7. — An average sample of hand-scooped and machine-scooped mother bulbs. 
Hand-scooped bulbs on the left ; machine-scooped bulbs on the right. 
Fig. 8. — Interior of the frame propagating house built at the United States Bulb 
Garden in the spring of 1012. Tbe movable trays are in place ready to receive the 
bulbs. The bouse is equipped with a hot-water beating apparatus, so that any 
desired temperature can be maintained during the time the mother bulbs remain 
there, which is from three to four months. The temperature maintained is from 
To to 90° F. day and night. 
above where they unite with the base of the bulb. (Figs. 3 to 6, in- 
clusive.) Cutting the bulb in this way destroys the growing point 
and flower bud. and all the latent strength of the bulb that otherwise 
