Given that the global sales of Dubium bulbs exceeds 20 million in commercial use for cut flower or pots and close to 100% flowering is required as standard then it is not logical to expect them all to have been inspected before shipping. The exact protacol(not anecdotes) is well known by the major producers. This is easy when producing in greenhouses where all parametres can be ajusted and maintained, but more difficult when it is growing in the soil or garden where each year conditions vary. As the bulbs age they split with the centre dying and small bulblets can set around the edge. These may be too small to flower in the next year,but should still germinate and gow ok if the conditions are correct. Hugh ________________________________ From: AW <awilson@avonia.com> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Sent: Monday, 8 December 2014, 6:15 Subject: Re: [pbs] Ornithogalum failure to break dormancy This is not an uncommon problem. Encountering it myself I made enquiries from one nursery source and was told that within the industry that no definitive, reliable treatement had been found. Instead, more bulbs are grown than they expect to ship. They ship only those bulbs that are seen to be ready to break dormancy. Translated into my own terms, I waited a second year. A high percentage came up, but not all. It's a matter of patience. In nature, many bulbs practice dormancy. It is a means to reduce losses in droughty years. Andrew San Diego