256 LUTHER BUKBANK 



but would rarely bloom the first year. In the 

 second season they would almost invariably do so 

 and the general character of their flowers could 

 then be determined. 



But the blossoms of the first season would not 

 fully represent the possibilities of their mature 

 production. For example, plants that first bear 

 blossoms that are semidouble would in later sea- 

 sons, when the vines had gained in strength, bear 

 fully double flowers. 



At the time when my first hybrid double 

 clematis flowers were produced, there was, I 

 think, but one other double one known anywhere 

 in the world, this being a form produced in Eng- 

 land. More recently, however, several good 

 double varieties of this class have been introduced. 



The clematis is a plant that improves with 

 acquaintance. Existing varieties furnish vines 

 that are beautiful in foliage, in flower, and in 

 their picturesque display of seed pods. There is 

 a great variation among the forms already under 

 cultivation, but there is still abundant oppor- 

 tunity for improvement with these; and in addi- 

 tion wild species may be found that through 

 hybridization will certainly introduce tendencies 

 to still wider variation. 



What plant could offer greater inducements 

 to the experimenter? 



