From: songbird@anthive.com   
      
   T wrote:   
   ...   
      
     i would not expect anything to grow that does not   
   contain some part of the base plate of the bulb (   
   where the roots come out).   
      
     you may be able to get other pieces to form roots   
   if you culture them in some medium with specific   
   hormones to encourage cell division and differentiation   
   to get them to set up shop like the roots would but   
   really that's way outside the scope of many simple   
   gardeners.   
      
     the easiest manner to do what you want is to take   
   the stem and cut it in half and poke it in the   
   ground and keep it moist enough that it doesn't   
   dry out completely.   
      
     also remember when taking cuttings of many sorts   
   that there is the idea that the top of the plant   
   in terms of size and demand is similar to what is   
   left of the roots below taking into consideration   
   some root mortality.  to make that simpler, it   
   often helps to trim off some of the leaves above   
   to let the roots below not have to keep up with   
   extreme demands until they can get established   
   again.   
      
     oh, and often it's a good idea to put such   
   cuttings in some shade or dappled light where it   
   is cooler and not so demanding until they're   
   showing some signs of actively growing again.   
      
      
     songbird   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)