276 Variation of Flowers from Seed. 



VARIATION OF FLOWERS FROM SEED. 



By FuANCis Parkman, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 



Ok the two methods of producing new varieties of flowers, — namely, 

 hybridization and "sports," — the latter produces results almost as striking 

 as the former. By " sports " is commonly meant the changes which plants 

 undergo when raised from seed, or which, by a freak of Nature, sometimes 

 make their appearance in some single branch or flower different from others 

 of the same plant. 



For ten years past we have experimented with a single tribe of plants, 

 the DelpJdniums^ or perennial larkspurs ; and we will now give some of the 

 results, in order to show what changes may be produced in some species 

 and genera without any use whatever of hybridization. Different genera 

 and different species differ very much, it is true, in their capacity of devel- 

 opment or of change by this means ; but nearly all are capable of it in 

 some degree. 



Eight or nine years ago, we raised a handsome seedling from the variety 

 oi Dclphiiiiiim called D. perfectum Tioviim. It was double, and of a clear 

 sky-blue. From this single flower have proceeded all the varieties which 

 we shall mention. Not that we have not tried the same experiments with 

 many other Delphiniums ; but we have found in none of them such a ten- 

 dency to " sport," or to assume new forms and colors. This single flower 

 has produced more good varieties than all the rest combined. First we 

 raised from it a variety like itself in color, but more double and more com- 

 pact in habit. From this last variety we raised a great number of seed- 

 lings, one of which was different from all the rest. It had no beauty ; but 

 it was white, — a color which, as far as we know, had not hitherto appeared 

 in this section of the Delphinium family. So we carefully set it aside, and 

 rarised seed from it. Most of the seedlings reverted to the sky-blue of the 

 original variety ; but one of them was altogether distinct. It was of a 

 light blue shaded with pink. The flower was as round and as double as 

 that of a double feverfew ; and the plant never exceeded two feet and a 

 half in height, while the parent was five feet. Being so very double, it bore 

 no seed ; and nothing, therefore, could be produced from it. 



