338 Ever-sporting Varieties 



are not yet to be seen, or at least are not far 

 enough developed to show the real distinctive 

 marks. Children may be employed to chose and 

 draw out the singles. There are some slight 

 differences in the fullness and roundness of the 

 buds and the pubescence of the young leaves. 

 Moreover the buds of the doubles are said to 

 be sweeter to the taste than those of the singles. 

 But as yet I have not been able to ascertain, 

 whether any scientific investigation of this proc- 

 ess has ever been made, though according to 

 some communications made to me by the late 

 Mr. Cornu, the practice seems to be very gen- 

 eral in the environs of Paris. In summer large 

 fields may be seen, bearing exclusively double 

 flowers, owing to the weeding out of the singles 

 long before flowering. 



Bud- variation is the last point to be taken up. 

 It seems to be very rare with stocks, but some 

 instances have been recorded in literature. 

 Darwin mentions a double stock with a branch 

 bearing single flowers, and other cases are 

 known to have occurred. But in no instance 

 does the seed of such a bud-variant seem to 

 have been saved. Occasionally other rever- 

 sions also occur. From time to time speci- 

 mens appear with more luxurious growth 

 and with divergent instead of erect pods. 

 They are called Erfurt " generals " on ac- 



