10 
BULLETIN 28, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The scored mother bulbs are treated and handled in practically the 
same way as those that are scooped. Some growers prefer to place 
the scored mother bulbs out of doors and cover them with about 6 
inches of soil, where they are left for about six weeks. They are then 
uncovered, and after drying for about a day are brought into the 
propagating house and given practically the same treatment as the 
scooped mother bulbs. 
The time required to mature bulbs by this method is from three to 
five years, depending upon the variety, the size and strength of the 
bulblets, and the conditions under which thev are grown. During the 
period when the young bulblets are being produced as a result of 
scooping and scor- 
ing, the greatest care 
must be taken to pro- 
tect them from in- 
jury from dampness, 
cold, heat, disease, 
etc. 
STOCK MOTHER BULBS. 
The stock of mother 
hyacinth bulbs for 
use at the Belling- 
ham garden is im- 
ported annually and 
will have to be until 
the home-grown stock 
from the first propa- 
gation made at the 
garden in 1909 
reaches maturity ; 
this under normal 
conditions will be 
from one to three years hence. It has not been possible to have the 
imported bulbs delivered at the Bellingham garden until some time 
in October, which is entirely too late for scooping and scoring that 
season. This necessitates growing them one season. They are there- 
fore planted, as soon as possible after being receded, in beds 3G inches 
wide and of any desired length. The soil is spaded out of the first 
bed, and the bulbs are placed about 1 to 6 inches apart in rows G to 8 
inches apart across the bed and covered to a depth of 3 or 1 inches 
with soil from the adjacent bed. This jDrocess is continued until the 
bulbs are all planted. 
Fig. 10. — One of the first beds of scooped mother bulbs of 
the hyacinth planted at the United States Bulb Garden. 
Photographed in October, 1909. 
