The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-05-23

as we'll as beautiful study in physio-
logical botany that | cannot resist
the temptation of explaining the pro-
cess, although | fear at tie risk of
mourning the censu;e of my anti-bo-
tanical readers. Bulbs are III reality
underground branches and are not
roots for the reason that the latter
are never furnished with buds nor
leaves.
Subterranean branches, on the
other hand, are always supplied with
buds and mostly with branch-like
appendages that answer to and are
of the same general character as
leaves, but not foliage, because all
leaves 90 not assist plant grown.
Now. the hyacinth buib, for instance
is composed Of a great number Of
scales, these are the leaves as it We're
on the underground stem or branch,
and the bulb will be found carefully
concealed in the centre. The scales
are the receptacles or storehouses
confirming the mass Of nutriment
collected by the foliage during the
previous summer; so that when the
cutting process is resorted to, numer
Gus other buds are developed on the
stem (each containing tiny bul
with scaI,-like leaves) in precisely
the same manner that She black berry
and other suc&ering" plants dcrel-
op dormant buds. The true roots
emanate from the base of the bulb
and resemble long white tibers.
During a recent visit to the Haar-
lem bulb farms | found tat the
bulbs had mostly been gathered and
stored in the imnence drying houses,
an imporaqnt requisite to every es-
Enlistment. These are kept scru-
pnlously clean in every part, AMI es-
pecial attention is paid to the venti-
lation. Long racks formed Of mar
row laths extend the whole length
Of the buildings, one above another,
about two feet distant, from the floor
to the roof The bulbs are arranged
very neatly and evenly thereon with
each variety distinctly marked; but
they present 50 many marked fea-
lures. small in themselves, it is true,
that the skilled gardener is enabled
to name each kind as he rapidly
passes along without looking at the
respective labels, \ constant cur
rent Of warm pure air passes over
the surface of the bulbs and they are
vigilantly watched, 50 that any de
cayed portion shall be Immediately
removed.
The crocus, tulip, ranuuculus, ane-
none, snow-drcp, etc, propagate
themselves so readily tlat it is use
less to resort to artificial means, con-
sequrntly they may be seen here in
endless profusion.
The Dutch ha,e a very useful
method of growing the well-known
Lay of the Valley. This pretty lit
tie favorite has a habit of extending
ITS underground branches-generally
called roots-in every direction, so
that it soon becomes weed-like in
character; but the growers, by fire.
quently clipping of these struggling
stems, with their terminal buds, read
ily induce a multitude Of fibers TO
form, hence a clump is the result,
which commands an advanced price.
They use the variegatcd-leaved va
riety for edging beds, and a pretty
border it makes, too, with It's con
spicuous white bands and stripes.
In Krelage's collection one can
find almost everything known i'll the
way Of bulbs and tubers. Lilies are
decided speciality and a bed of the
enormous L. giganteum several feet
high, covered with large flowers,
made a grand sight. Justly is ii
named, for the plants are truly gi-
ga .ic in size. l.. chalcedonicum,
with brilliant scarlet flowers, was
dazzling in color, whilst the pure
snow-white tubes of the L. longiflo-
rum was charming in its purity. l..
auratum, conspicuous alike for its
large bloom, with distinct golden
band on each petal, and luxuriant
foliage; l.. martagon, the favorite
Turk cap, in almost innumerablc
shades of color; and lastly, although
Ear from least. the beautiful varieties
of l.. speciosum, better known as L.
lancifolium, were exceedingly at
tractiYe.
/ 1t is really wonderful how much
attention is paid by the Dutch to