nEMARKS ON THE ORIGIN OF DOUBLE FLOWERS. 165 



ARTICLE IX. 



REMARKS ON THE ORIGIN OF DOUBLE FLOWERS. 



BY MR. WILLIAM TEMPLK, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, LIVERPOOL. 



Conversing with a friend a few days back on the most certain way 

 to obtain the. greatest quantity of double Stocks from seed, we were 

 led to speak of the origin of double flowers in general, and that gene- 

 rally speaking the cause was little understood. The result of our con- 

 versation induced my friend to transmit me the following remarks 

 upon the subject, which, after reading, I forward for insertion in the 

 Cabinet, thinking, when the cause is generally understood, attention 

 will be additionally given to it in a practical manner. 



A highly concentrated state of the sap in plants induces the pro- 

 duction of flowers, and before the petals, pistil, and stamens can be 

 formed, it must be perfectly elaborated ; thus perfected, they have a 

 higher state of existence than the leaves, which is the lowest, stem 

 petals, after which the pistil and stamens, and finally the fruits. This 

 perfect elaboration can only be obtained by a due degree of light and 

 height, &c. 



When, however, double flowers are produced, it is generally by a 

 change of the higher parts of the existence, of stamens and pistils into 

 the lower ^state of petals ; and the more the plant is checked by a 

 poorer soil, and a sparing supply of water for a period, the more 

 likely, by giving luxuriant food and treatment afterwards, to bring 

 back the pistil and stamens to a grosser and lower stage of existence 

 to petals, and thus produce double flowers. The greater the check 

 given, the more powerful will be the effect of after luxuriance when 

 shifted into a rich soil, placed in due heat, properly supplied with 

 water and every requisite attention, with the greater vigour there will 

 be "a flow of crude sap, and the flower is not only then produced 

 larger, but the crude sap has a tendency to lower the state of exist- 

 ence, and the stamens and pistils being higher in the scale of ex- 

 istence, are reduced to the more inferior condition of petals. Some- 

 times the scale of existence is so far reduced, that what had been 

 originally the nucleus of a branch, but elevated by elaboration acting 

 on the. vital energy into the state of petals, stamens, and pistils, is not 

 only reduced to petals and become double, but will shoot again into a 

 branch, as we have had instances with Brown's Superbe, and other 

 roses. The double Lychnis diurna has the stamens changed into red 



