Double Purple Wistaria. 47 



times attained; and by the 15th five were not uncommon. On the 

 night of the 27th the vines of those that remained — mostly crosses with 

 kite kinds, as Excelsior and White Peach Blow — were cut down by 

 frost. A few of these plants yielded six pounds and upward, and one 

 reached seven pounds and seven ounces. The tubers were generally 

 quite unifoi'm, and of marketable size ; several exceeded a pound each ;^ 

 two from one hill weighed respectively fifteen and sixteen ounces, and 

 the largest one in the lot weighed twenty ounces. In adjoining rows 

 the Early Rose averaged about two pounds five ounces. On the other 

 side several hills of Sebec ranged from ten ounces to two pounds three 

 ounces ; of White Peach Blow, from two pounds fifteen ounces to five 

 pounds fourteen ounces ; of Peerless, from four pounds two ounces to 

 five pounds four ounces. 



The tubers are as various in every particular as were the vines. Some 

 reproduce the form and color of the Early Rose, with earlier or later 

 maturity ; others are the exact counterparts of those kinds which fur- 

 nished the pollen. Some seem to combine happily the good characters 

 of both parents. Among them are some of as fine appearance and 

 quality as any I ever saw. While many possess some fault which will 

 cause their rejection, a few excel in every respect. Only a single 

 instance of rot was found among them. 



DOUBLE PURPLE WISTARIA. 



By Francis Parkman, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 



Several years ago we received from Japan a small plant, in a pot. 

 It was without name, but was evidently some species of Wistaria. It 

 grew with the greatest vigor till its longest shoots measured more 

 than thirty feet from the ground. Last season it bloomed for the first 

 time. From the character of its foliage we had supposed it to be the 

 white variety of W. sinensis^ and we were almost as much surprised as 

 gratified when we saw it hung with long pendent clusters of perfectly 

 double flowers, a shade deeper in color than the common single wistaria. 

 In short, we found ourselves in possession of a novelty of the first order, 

 which, so far as we know, has not yet appeared in the catalogues of 

 any European nurseryman. The depth of color of the flowers, the 

 compactness and length of the clusters, and the vigorous, hardy char- 

 acter of the plant, — which has stood three winters totally unprotected, 

 and without the slightest injury, — make it an invaluable addition to 

 the list of hardy climbers. 



