492 APPENDIX. 



obtain plants bearing double instead of single flowers. There is 

 first the crossing of single flowers with double ones, cfFected by plant- 

 ing a double-flowered plant in proximity to a single-Uowered one; 

 but this, it is obvious, could lead to no important results, smce the 

 double flowers, having no pollen, could not possibly influence the 

 seed, which is borne only by the single-flowered plants. Another 

 plan is the degustation of the buds, that is to say, the chewing of 

 the well-formed buds ; it is held that the single plants can be recog- 

 nised by their sweeter taste and greater consistence, and may thus 

 be weeded out ; but there is at least the disadvantage attending 

 this method, that the plants, single as well as double, must all be 

 grown up to the period when these buds are tolerably well advanced. 

 A third method which has been adopted is, that of sowing the seeds at 

 a particular lunar epoch, great confidence being placed in the plan of 

 planting them during the last quarter of the moon, but such confidence 

 is found to be misplaced. The plan of removing the stamens has had 

 its supporters, but as this must be done at an early stage of development, 

 and could only influence the result by diverting the vital force which 

 would be expended in the maturation of the pollen, to the perfecting of 

 the seeds, it is obvious that the plan is impracticable for all ordinary 

 purposes, even if in any degree efficient, which from the plasticity of 

 vegetable development, and the faculty of doubling which is inherent 

 in the stock family, is not at all improbable. Still another mark, the 

 presence of a fifth petal in the single or seed-bearing flower, has been 

 held to indicate the assurance of obtaining a crop of double-flowered 

 plants from seeds saved from flowers possessing this peculiarity. To a 

 certain extent, doubtless, this expectation would be realised, owing to 

 the plasticity and inherent quality just alluded to, but the proportion 

 would be too small for any useful practical purpose. 



" The gardeners of Erfurt," observes M. Chate, who has wi'itton a 

 book ' on the subject, in which he makes known a means of obtaining 

 double-flowered stocks founded on more than fifty years' practice in his 

 family, " have, for a long time, to a certain extent monopolised the sale 

 of seeds of these plants. To obtain these seeds, the Erfurt gardeners 

 cultivate the flowers in pots, and place them on shelves in large gfreen- 

 houses, giving them only sufficient water to prevent them from dying. 

 So cultivated the plants become weakened, the pods shortened, and the 

 seeds less numerous, and better ripened ; and these seeds give from 60 

 to 70 per cent, of double flowers. 



'* The seeds from these plants are said to be mostly of an abnormal 

 shape, which is so striking that experienced cultivatoi*s are able to sepa- 

 rate those which would furnish double flowers from those which would 

 produce single ones." 



' Traitc des Giroflces,' per B. Chatc. 



