296 ON DOUBLE FLOWERED STOCKS. 
Verbena, or VERVAINE, gives one of the finest perfumes with 
which we are acquainted; it is well known as yielding a delightful 
fragrance by merely drawing the hand over the plant; some of the 
little vessels or sacks containing the essential oil must be crushed in 
the act, as there is little or no odour by merely smelling at the plant. 
On account of the great value of the real article, it is scarcely if ever 
used by the manufacturing perfumer; but it is most successfully 
imitated by mixing the oil of Ginger-grass (Andropogon Schcenanthus) 
with pure spirit, the odour of which resembles the [former to a nicety. 
Ginger-grass, or Lemon-grass grows abundantly in India, and the oil 
is procured by distillation. So cheap is it that “ Extract of Verbena” 
is found in every fancy shop in the kingdom; this, however, is but a 
plain solution of the Ginger-grass oil in spirit. The finest “ Extrait 
de Vervaine,” of the French perfumers, contains, besides that oil, oil 
of Lemons and Oranges, with the addition of a little Essence of Rose ; 
this preparation is really a very delightful and refreshing perfume.— 
P. in Gardeners’ Chronicle. 
ON DOUBLE FLOWERED STOCKS. 
BY ALPHA. 
A Great deal has been stated relative to the obtaining double-blos- 
somed stocks, but the real origin of these productions is not generally 
known, I therefore transmit the following particulars on the subject, 
which may facilitate attempts to a more general production of double 
flowers, not only in the tribe of Stocks, but many other flowers not yet 
even thought about. 
Double flowers are produced generally by a change of stamens and 
pistils into petals. This is promoted by the plant being checked in a 
poor soil, and sparingly watered for a time, then afterwards giving it 
luxuriant food and due treatment, which will tend to bring the pistil 
and stamens into petals, and so produce double flowers. 
Double flowers being once obtained may be perpetuated by raising a 
supply from cuttings, slips, and grafts. This may be done with the Ten- 
week Stock, Wallflower, &c., but their original existence was from 
seed obtained from single flowers, as the double-flowered do not bear 
seed. 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 existence, and the stamens and pistils being higher 
in the scale of existence, are reduced to a more inferior condition of 
petals. Sometimes 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 a 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 
_ oe” a ed 
