Hence we may infer that
the single-flowered seeds are shorter lived than the doubles, and this
obviously points to a greater weakness of the first. It is quite evident
that there is some common cause for these facts and for the above cited
experience, that the first and best pods give more doubles. Much,
however, remains to be investigated before a satisfactory answer can be
made to these questions.
A third point is the curious practice, called by the French "esimpler,"
and which consists in pulling out the singles when very young. It seems
to be done at an age when the flower-buds [338] are not yet visible, or
at least are not far enough developed to show the real distinctive
marks. Children may be employed to choose and destroy 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 process has ever been made, though according to
some communications made to me by the late Mr. Cornu, the practice seems
to be very general 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.
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