42 Making a Bulb Garden 
with, or if the bulbs have not been allowed 
to produce seed. The aim of all plants, 
always, is reproduction; if a bulb suc- 
ceeds in its efforts to this end by develop- 
ing seed, it will not — indeed it cannot, for 
lack of energy — duplicate its work by 
proceeding to store up, within itself, a 
new set of blossoms for another year, as 
well as to make the young bulblets which 
assure reproduction below ground. For 
even if its seeds are allowed to mature, 
it still will be intent upon more of its 
own kind — upon its offspring — and until 
assurance is made doubly sure, with seeds 
above ground and offsets below, it will 
take no heed of ever producing another 
flower. So all flower stalks should be 
cut away as soon as the flowers fade ; it is 
an even greater advantage to the bulb if 
the flowers are cut in their prime, when 
they are first opened. This is not neces- 
sary, however; one may be guided by 
preference — but if is always done where 
bulbs are grown commercially. 
