results, since the double
flowers, having no pollen, could not possibly influence the seed, which
is borne only by the single-flowered plants. Another plan is the
degustation of the buds, that is to say, the chewing of the well-formed
buds; it is held that the single plants can be recognised by their
sweeter taste and greater consistence, and may thus be weeded out; but
there is at least the disadvantage attending this method, that the
plants, single as well as double, must all be grown up to the period
when these buds are tolerably well advanced. A third method which has
been adopted is, that of sowing the seeds at a particular lunar epoch,
great confidence being placed in the plan of planting them during the
last quarter of the moon, but such confidence is found to be misplaced.
The plan of removing the stamens has had its supporters, but as this
must be done at an early stage of development, and could only influence
the result by diverting the vital force which would be expended in the
maturation of the pollen, to the perfecting of the seeds, it is obvious
that the plan is impracticable for all ordinary purposes, even if in any
degree efficient, which from the plasticity of vegetable development,
and the faculty of doubling which is inherent in the stock family, is
not at all improbable. Still another mark, the presence of a fifth petal
in the single or seed-bearing flower, has been held to indicate the
assurance of obtaining a crop of double-flowered plants from seeds saved
from flowers possessing this peculiarity. To a certain extent,
doubtless, this expectation would be realised, owing to the plasticity
and inherent quality just alluded to, but the proportion would be too
small for any useful practical purpose.

"The gardeners of Erfurt," observes M. Chate, who has written a
book[565] on the subject, in which he makes known a means of obtaining
double-flowered stocks founded on more than fifty years' practice in his
family, "have, for a long time, to a certain extent monopolised the sale
of seeds of these plants. To obtain these seeds, the Erfurt gardeners
cultivate the flowers in pots, and place them on shelves in large
greenhouses, giving them only sufficient water to prevent them from
dying. So cultivated the plants become weakened, the pods shortened, and
the seeds less numerous, and better ripened; and these seeds give from
60 to 70 per cent. of double flowers.

"The seeds from these plants are said to be m