BULB

the name of a kind of bud belonging to certain pereimial herbaceous plants, and particidarly to the monocotyledons. It is always underground, and is supported by a kind of solid and horizontal plate, lying between it and the true root. To this flattened tube role' the fleshy scales of which the bulb is externally formed are fixed by their base. l*he interior contains the rudiments of the flower-stalks and leaves. The outermost of these scales are thin and dry like paper, but they become more fleshy and succulent in the interior. Sometimes these scales are of one piece, a single scale embracing the whole circumference of the bidb, as in the onion and the hyacinth. They are then named 'coated' or 'tunicated bulbs.* At other times the BULGAMA— scales are smaller and free at the sides, and one another only in the manner of tiles on a roof, in the white lily. Lastly, the coats are sometimes close as to be confounded together, so that the seems as if formed of a solid and homogeneous stance. Such bulbs are called 'solid,' and they exemplified in the common saffron. Bulbs again either Simple,' as in the tulip and squill, or they 'multiple,' OB formed of several small bulbs collected under the same envelope, as in garlic. Bulbs reproduced every year, but the manner of reproduction is different in different species. Sometimes new bulbs arise in the very centre of the old as in the common onion; sometimes from the side, in meadow-saffron; sometimes entirely new bidbs developed at the side of the old ones, as in the and hyacinth, or above them, as in the gladiolus, beneath them, as in many species of LdL In mon language the young bulbs are named 'offsets.* BUL , EuBOPEAK or Little, a portion Turkey which owes its name to the Asiatic race Bulgarians (which see) who overran it. The vince of the Danube embraces the greater part Bulgaria, and the general governor resides at chuk. It is nearly in the form of a triangle, closed by the Danube on the y., the Black Sea the B., the Balkan (which see) or Mount Hsemus on the B. and w. The province is 40,000 miles in extent, with a pop. of 2,047,000 inhabitants, engaged in agricultural labours, peaceful and trio us, and mostly members of the Greek Church. The whole province, except in the neighbourhood of the Danube and the Black Sea, is rugged mountainous. From the eastern extremity Balkan a branch runs north-easterly, nearly parallel mth the Euxine, and the streams flow northerly westerly to the Duiube, or south-easterly to the The soU is very productive; all sorts of grain, wool, iron, and wine are raised in abundance, the province is considered by the Turks the granary of Constantinople. About Philippopoli are rice farms. A very fine wool is Drought from pastures near Nicopoli, and silk, honey, wax, tobacco are important articles of produce. Dobrudsha, the sandy plam on the Black Sea, is famous horses, which are small, but strong and well shaped. Some of the principal towns, besides those already mentioned, are Silistria^ taken by the Ku ians 28, 1829, 216 miles K. of Constantinople, Brailow, Varna, Chumla, or Schumla, which have been objects of violent contest between the Bu ians Turks. 469