Fig. 84.—Hyacinth bulb cut across to induce the formation of new bulbs.
Fig. 85.—Showing the formation of new bulbs on the cut edges of an old hyacinth bulb.
It will be remarked that the adventitious production of buds, like that of roots, is very often consequent on decay or injury. The Dutch bulb-growers have availed themselves of this latter circumstance in the propagation of hyacinths. Mr. Fortune, who published some articles on this subject in the 'Gardener's Chronicle,'[170] describes two special modes as adopted by these skilful horticulturists—the one to make two or three deep cuts at the base of the bulb, destroying the nascent flower-stalk when, after a time, small bulbs are formed along the edges of the cut surfaces (figs. 84, 85). The other method is effected by scooping out the interior of the base of the bulb, thus leaving exposed the cut ends of the sheathing leaves arranged concentrically; along these lines the new bulbs are, after some time, formed in great numbers (fig. 86).
Fig. 86.—Showing the production of small bulbs on the inner surface of the scooped-out bulb of hyacinth.
For the formation of supernumerary leaves on the surface of the normal one, see Multiplication and Hypertrophy.