250 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



hand, if we remove a single Stock from among hundreds 

 of others equally single, and of a strain which has no dis- 

 position to go double, that single one would not yield in its 

 progeny one more double variety for being planted among 

 a thousand double ones ; so that the common advice to save 

 seed from such single-flowered plants as grow near many 

 double ones is good for nothing, unless the single ones 

 come from the same " strain," and have the same disposi- 

 tion, as the double ones themselves ; that is to say, are of 

 the same progeny. In other words, the planting of a thou- 

 sand double stocks around a single one does not change 

 the nature of its seed : but the tendency to produce double 

 flowers is an inherent property brought about in certain 

 plants by careful culture and seed-saving, as all other floral 

 improvements have been ; and is not shared by other plants 

 though of the very same kind, which have not been influ- 

 enced in this manner. The single-flowered plants only bear 

 seed. The tendency to produce double flowers is sometimes 

 indicated by the production of flowers with more than the 

 usual number of petals (four) : and, when this is observed, it 

 may be taken as a favorable indication ; and such blossoms 

 should be marked, and their seed kept separate. The Ten- 

 weeks Stocks should be sown in March, April, and May, for 

 summer and autumn blooming plants : they may be sown in 

 boxes, in a frame, or on prepared sheltered beds ; when up, 

 give plenty of air, and no more water than is just enough to 

 keep them from flagging ; when they have formed six good 

 leaves, plant them out in a bed of rich soil, or pot them oft" 

 in rich soil, and give plenty of water until they bloom. For 

 earlier spring-bloom, they, as well as what is called the In- 

 termediate Stock, should be sown in August and September, 

 and wintered in pots in dry cold frames. The Brompton 

 i\nd Queen Stocks maybe sown in the open border, thinly, in 



