This is the normal technique for commercial propagation of Galanthus and many other true bulbs, when the quarter or 1/8ths or even 1/16ths on larger bulbs have been cut, the scales may then be separated into pairs. This is called "twin scaling". I believe that it is normally done at the start of summer dormancy, with a lot of fungicide and a sterile blade, the pieces are put in a warm atmosphere such as a plastic bag with perlite in an airing cupboard for the summer, and bulblets form on the fragments of basal plate (and sometimes on the cut edges of the scales too). these can then be planted in the Autumn While I have experimented on occasion, I am no expert on the procedure and others will know a lot more about it. Peter (UK)