Almost all bulbs are capable of multiplying through division or offsets. However they are all adapted to their own environments and in a garden they all have differences in performance. It can really depend on not only the species of plant but on each variety, which has different abilities to overcome problems it faces in the garden. Many bulbs you buy are not well-adapted to your climate and will gradually fade away rather than multiplying. Grape hyacinths will multiply very quickly. Garlic cloves in a garden will multiply quickly. Crocus will multiply quickly. Daffodils will multiply gradually. Ornamental alliums, depending on variety, can multiply slowly or quickly - small kinds multiply more quickly. Dutch iris are very difficult to multiply at all. Asiatic lilies can multiply quickly. Tiger lilies can multiply VERY quickly. Oriental lilies usually multiply slowly. Gladiolus will usually divide into exactly 2 new large bulbs per year, plus a bunch of very small offsets that will take several more years to reach blooming size. The ideal is to get a multiplciation of large, healthy bulbs, or multiplication that favors large bulbs so when the bulbs become overcrowded they naturally stop dividing. This is usually done by growing them in their ideal soil type and with sufficient water. Some kinds of bulbs that are subjected to too much drought or heat stress have a tendency to split themselves up into a large number of relatively small bulbs - too small to bloom well, and in competition with each other, and plus they divide even more the next year and eventually kill themselves off by getting too small. That's especially common with tulips and one of the reasons many kinds fail to return year after year. A few varieties like Darwin tulips, which are known as better perennializers, actually do so because they RESIST multiplying; a large first-year bulb may divide into 2 or 3 blooming-sized bulbs, and subsequently the smaller ones will be less likely to split farther.

Many local governments (city, county) in the US offer subsidized compost bins to their residents. I've seen the Biostack, Earth Machine, and at least one other model offered. Sometimes you can even get a worm box from these offers! Prices here in the Bay Area for subsidized bins run approx. 1/3 of retail price, give or take, so definitely check it out. I think the Biostack is retailing for $99 to $129, depending on where you want to purchase it, so $200 should get you some nice goodies, even if you have to pay full prices. Enjoy! Cynthia H. El Cerrito, CA

We have not experienced scratching with our GE smooth top. However, it is not the white, and is the speckled grey/black finish, so perhaps we just do not see the scratches. Use a razor blade and CeramaBright to clean. The key to smooth top cookware is a very flat machined bottom -- and smooth to avoid scratches. Aluminum or copper bottom is likely going to be less abrasive. And the cookware flat surface has to match the diameter of the element used. No use in putting a small diameter on a large element, or the element will just cut back in output. In other words a large diameter high output element is useless unless you use a matching diameter pan.

I wasn't saying anyone needed to buy a set -- I have such a mix I'm certainly the anti-set type, but form someone who is looking to replace cookware for a high BTU output cooktop or range, I would recommend those brands and type. The OP asked about a recommendation of a line -- suggesting they were looking at a set or replaceing most of their cookware. You do get better pricing on some sets and for the basics, it might not be a bad way to start out. Set or not, which one or a mix -- all the buyer's choice. I am likely to make jam in a pot I also use for popcorn and boiling pasta water, so I have replaced most of my disc bottoms so that everything I have works for as much as possible. You can use the disc bottoms (I still have a few I have kept in the rotation), but if they are limited in their use, I wouldn't go out and buy new ones. I'd buy the multi-ply that can do anything I need -- I haven't found them limiting for anything, although they might heat less quickly for pasta. They do tend to be pricier. The All-Clad seconds sale, Marshall's, TJ Maxx or a great sale find (again the best sales are often on sets) make them more reasonable. I do have a couple of non-sticks -- definitely for eggs. And I have a couple of huge pots for canning, chili-cook-off, etc. that are not tri-ply. CP, this is the second forum I've seen the All-Clad seconds sale mentioned on. I'm trying hard not to look. I think I have my needs covered and I don't want to find out I'm wrong. LOL