Evening star., 1926-11-03
Seeds are incomprehensible.

Seeds are incomprehensible.
So are bulbs, but they seem more
human. The mystery of the bulbs is
not quite such a mystery as that OF
the seeds.
If for no other reason than that
the bulb Is refuge during Winter
and a store of food. this form of plant
life Is more easily understood by U.S.
Within this tulip bulb, we say, lies a
flower practically developed; it needs
but the warmth of Spring to unfold
its glory.
Because human beings can under
stand to some extent the necessity for
warm place of refuge and plenty to
eat, we say the bulbs strike us as more
human, more comprehensive.
If we can but shove the mystery
back another remove, we have done
something. Behind our futile little
curtain the great Mystery still stands
however.
The tulip. the crocus. Is now in
the ground; the hyacinth, the daf-
fodil, is safe in its bed; each will wait
there, trusting in the Lord. for the
better weather of Spring, 1927.
What interesting things, the bulbs!
In discussing them, we draw no
hard and fast lines. Anything that
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tuber of the dahlia finds a place, as
does the CORN of the gladiolus. They
may not be bulbs" in the strictest
sense, but in the general garden
sense they come within the term
easily.
The tulip, Of course, Is true bulb.
II any one asks you for an example
Of the bulb. you are perfectly safe
in naming the tulip. 1t Is composed
Of overlapping scales, which are
really merely modified leaves. The
flower is there half-formed.
There are all sorts of bulbs. from
the huge f1eshy lily bulbs to the
smaller corms Of the gladioli. Some
bulbs, such as that Of the onion. have
single outer scales; others have the
scales laid on in tilelike formation:
some are practically solid. The bulbs
are classified as single tulip) and
multiple (such as garlic).
Almost any plant that appears to
be bulb Is bulb-at least, we go
on that theory. The point is that
the article shows no sign Of root,
stem or leaves. yet develops them
later. when placed in the proper en-
vironment and under the right con-
ditions.
The leaves Of the developed bulbs
are as important as the bulbs them
selves. for It is from their growth.
as they take in air and sunshine,
especially the latter. that the new
bulb Is formed. So bulb planters
should take care to treat their bulb
leaves with care. This accounts for
the advice to allow tulips to remain
in their beds unmolested until the
leaves die down. Many violate this
injunction, however, and the bulbs
do not seem to be particularly
harmed. Undoubtedly this shows the
wide tolerance Nature has placed in
all her creations. She sets rules for
growth. but If these rules are vio-
lated. growth will take place just the
same, if at all possible.
The German and Japanese iris
scarcely can be called bulbs, but their
rhizomes are much like those Of other
plants that are loosely grouped with
the bulbs. The roots of the peony
probably should not be included. yet
many amateur gardeners will be in
clined to call them bulbs, too, to dis.
tinguish them from seeds.
\ X y X
All the bulbs make seed, of course.
but these simply develop into bulbs.
A tulip seed-pod is a very interesting
creation. The seeds of the gladiolus
grow at the base of each flower on