THE DOUBLE STOCK, ITS HISTORY AND BEHAVIOUR. 457 



as his opinion that the double Wallflower differs in nothing from the 

 single except as the result of cultivation, he goes on to say that the 

 double Stock also differs scarcely at all in appearance from the single, 

 since it arises from it by seed or else (as they say) through treatment 

 and frequent transplantation. Early in the eighteenth century we find 

 Parkinson's view again upheld, for Salmons states in his " Herbal " * 

 (1710) that there are also annual species [i.e. of Stocks] producing 

 singles and doubles which are propagated by seed from the singles, since 

 the doubles produce no seed. But even at a later date this relation 

 between the two forms was not apparently common knowledge. 

 Possibly the annual strains were not yet in general cultivation, and 

 those acquainted only with the incana type would be familiar only 

 with the method of propagation by cuttings. Thus BradleY|. writing 

 as late as 1728, says of double Stock Gillyflowers " of divers colours " 

 ..." never bearing seed " . . . hut must he encr eased only hy the 

 cutting of the young Sprouts or Branches taken in a fit season." f 



Another cause which no doubt delayed general acceptance of the 

 fact that the double was obtained from the seed of singles was the 

 uncertain results which, as we now know, must have followed the sowing 

 of seed in many cases when the importance of pure breeding was 

 not understood. Sometimes expectation will have been fulfilled, but 

 frequently, no doubt, few or no doubles will have been obtained. 



In illustration of this point I may quote the account given by 

 Bradley of an experience which came under his notice. Bradley was 

 evidently impressed by the facts he relates, which we have no reason 

 to question, though we may not so readily accept his conclusions so far 

 as Stocks are concerned. The account appears at the end of the article 

 entitled " Of Stock July-flowers " in " New Improvements of Planting 

 and Gardening, both philosophical and practical," and is as follows % : — 

 I cannot anywhere so properly as in this Place take Notice of an 

 Observation which an ingenious Gentleman has communicated to me 

 concerning the Seeds of Plants, and particularly of those of the Stock 

 July-Flower. He says that he once bought some Stock-seed of a 

 Gardener near London, which he sow'd in his Garden in Oxfordshire, 

 and brought him great Store of double Flowers ; and some few single 

 Ones of an extraordinary Colour and Bigness, which were so much 

 admir'd by the Gardeners round about him, that he was continually 

 sollicited for some of their Seeds. He sav'd a large Quantity, and 

 supply' d several curious Persons with it. What he gave away main- 

 tained for the first time of Sowing its first Excellence, but what he 

 sow'd in his own Garden lost its good Qualities. In short, he was now 

 become a SuppHcant to those he had set up, and from the Seeds they 

 had saved he had his first good Fortune in many Douhle Flowers, 

 while those who had saved the Seeds complain' d of their ill Luck, and 



* p. 1105. 



t See Dictionanum Botanicum, under the name Leucoiura " (the italics above 

 are mine); 



X p. 144 in 4th edition (1724). 



VOL. XL. 3 I 



