Bulbs, are really underground buds; their fibrous or real roots die annually, but the bulbs remain stored with elaborated sap, and retaining, though latent, the vital powers of the plant, ready for reproduction at the appropriate season. Beside root bulbs, as are the onion, crocus, etc, there are stem or culinary bulbs, equally efficient fur propagation.

The culinary bulb consists of a number of small scales closely compacted together in an ovate or conical form, enclosing the rudiments of a future plant, and originating sometimes in the axil of the leaves, as in Dentaria bulbi-fera and several liliaceous plants, and sometimes at the base of the umbel of flowers, as in Allium carinatum and others, in both which cases it is nourished by the parent plant till it has reached maturity, at which period the bond of connexion is dissolved, and the bulb falls to the ground, endowed with the power of striking root in the soil by sending out fibres from the base, and so converting itself into a new individual. Every bulbous-rooted plant has some peculiar point in its management, but there are a few rules of general applicability. They should never be moved except whilst in a state of rest; this occurs to the summer-flowering bulbs in autumn, and to the autumn-flowering in early summer. They require to be taken up annually, or at farthest every second or third year, to remove the accumulated offsets.

No bulb should be kept out of the ground for more than a month, and even during that time it is desirable to keep it from drying by burying it in sand.

"Some bulbs," says Mr. Loudon, "multiply so fast by throwing out offsets, that they soon cease to send up flower stems. Of these may be mentioned the Ornithogalum umbellatum luteum, and some other species; some species of Scilla Muscari, Iris, Allium, Oxalis, and others. These should either be annually taken up, their offsets removed, and the parent bulb replanted, or the offsets, as soon as they send up leaves, should be destroyed. Indeed, whenever strong blowing bulbs is the principal object, the offsets should never be allowed to attain any size, but as soon as they indicate their existence by showing leaves above ground, they should be removed with a blunt stick, or in any way least injurious to the parent. By this practice a great accession of strength is given to the main plant, both for the display of blossom during the current season, and for invigorating the leaves to prepare and deposit nutriment in the bulb for the next year. In pursuance of the same objects, every flower should be pinched off as soon as it begins to decay, but the flower-stalk may remain till it begins to change colour with the leaves." - Enc. Gard.

"The rule to observe with newly imported bulbs, is to place them where they absorb moisture very slowly. The driest earth is full of water, which can only be driven off by the application of intense heat. A bulb, therefore, should be planted in what is called dry soil, and placed in a shady part of a greenhouse until it has become plump and begun to shoot. If it has begun to shoot when received, still the same treatment should be observed, and the driest soil used to plant it in.

"It is only when decisive signs of natural growth can be detected that a very little water should be given, while the temperature is at the same time slightly increased; and no considerable quantity of water should be administered until the leaves are an inch or two above ground, and evidently disposed to grow rapidly. If these precautions are taken, no failures are ever likely to occur; if neglected, no success can be anticipated.

"To this class belong the numerous beautiful tribes of Gladiolus, Ixia, Spar-axis, Watsonia, etc, all of which are so closely allied, that the same treatment is applicable to the whole of them. To these may be added the Hyacinth. The two principal points to be attended to in the successful cultivation of the Gladiolus and Ixia are, to protect the beds in which the bulbs are planted from frost and from heavy rains, both of which are equally destructive. For both tribes, the beds should be composed of prepared soil, at least one foot deep, with perfect drainage at the bottom.

"That for Gladioli should consist of two parts turfy loam, one of leaf mould, and the remainder of well-rotted cow dung and sand. For Ixias, the greater portion of the soil should be formed of sandy peat without any manure.

"In both cases the beds may be made level with the surrounding surface, and towards the latter end of this month the bulbs may be planted upon them in rows, six inches apart each way; when covered over with soil, the beds will thus be raised a few inches above the bulbs; a small pyramid of sand should be formed over each, to assist in protecting them from damp. Gladioli should be covered three inches with soil; Ixias not more than two inches.

"After planting, a layer of dry decayed leaf mould, or tan from a spent bark bed, should be spread three inches thick over the beds.

"Either of these will resist the rain for some time; but if there should be a continuance of wet, the beds should also be protected with mats secured upon hoops. The tan or leaves will likewise assist materially in excluding frost. When, however, this sets in severely, dry leaves should be laid over the surface to the depth of nine inches or a foot.

"As spring advances, these materials may be gradually removed, and all the care that will be afterwards required, will consist in tying up the flower-stems as they increase in growth. Unless the weather is very dry the beds will not need water; if such should be the case it should be liberally supplied, since the want of moisture in the growing season is just as destructive to Ixias, as a superabundance of it during their period of rest. If such beds are kept dry in winter, they will last for many years without replanting.

"There are many more interesting bulbs upon which it is needless here to dwell, as they will for the most part thrive in the borders amongst other plants.

"These are the Erythronium dens canis and americanum; Tigridia pa-vonia; Pardanthus chinensis; Zephy-ranthes Atamasco and Candida; Fritil-laria imperialis and meleagris; Leuco-jum aestivum and pulchellum; Scilla amaena, campanulata and pracox; As-phodelus ramosus, tauricus and lacteus; Van Thol, Sans eye and Parrot tulips; Ornithogalum pyramidale," etc.