BIRTH OF DOUBLE WHITE DELPHINIUM

Evening Star, Issue 20688, 10 January 1931, Page 17

BIRTH OF DOUBLE WHITE DELPHINIUM

-Breeders the world over who have been working with delphiniums have visioned a perfect double white variety, and they have often thought tho realisation near when the regular plantings would now and then develop a sport on tho white order. But those invariably proved to be merely albinos, which were neither perfect in themselves nor of a character to lend themselves to perpetuation or worthwhile improvement. Some of these albinos were thought good enough to Ix 3 propagated and distributed, hut none seemed to have the elements necessary to establish a tribe. Moerhcimii was a single form with rather small bowers, cold white with a tench of yellow in tho eye, but not a satisfactory form of growth and rarely did it make seeds. Bridal Gown had larger flowers and a strong growth, with leafage and spikes like the coloured kinds, but its seedlings were inferior to the parent plant and n few eamo white. Beauty of Langport was of the double form, but lacked the constitution to become tho Abraham of a new race, while others had tho shiny, stunted leafage that betokened an inferiority complex. All of thorn lacked tho virtues of our coloured kinds. So writes Charles F. Barber, of Troutdale, Oregon, U.S.A., in ‘.Horticulture.’ In tho Hoodacres (Oregon) plantings, continues this winter, Bridal Gown developed first, and when, several years later, a corresponding double" form came, of quite plebeian parentage, new efforts towards improvement were put forth. Bridal Gown was made the pollen parent of seedlings from a white - centred double light blue plant that seemed to have an unusual constitution, and from them eamo a conplo of double whites that were an improvement in size over previous ones. For lack of time and opportunity no hand-pollen-ising was done with the whito plants that summer, but seeds that were saved from the older double one, unprotected against the work of bees, wore saved and duly planted.

Then a very singular thing occurred, for “ believe it or not,” there came in the night, as ringing and clear as ordinary Sliced), “You will have many line "white delphiniums the coming year.” This was as unexpected as it was mysterious, but when __ the seedlings bloomed _ there indeed were “many line white” ones. One of the rows was most phenomenal—containing a total of thirteen plants, eleven of which were clear white, good plants, and mostly double. All were of the same leafage and stylo of growth as the best hybrids—-no shiny, stunted leaves or weakling plants. Such a radical change, in so sweeping a number and so permanently fixed, as succeeding seasons have proven it to be, is probably unknown in the annals of hybridising. Two of these plants were so perfect in every way—so far surpassing all others—they were given those names, Pearl Necklace and Tho Bride. The first was large-flowered and pure white in every detail, while the other by contrast—displayed a faint blush that was imperceptible at a casual glance. After these two eamo Snowbound, differing in its more open centre that allowed the bunch of tiny black stamens to be exposed. Tho next _ year, as though to signalise the beginning of more striking variations, one appeared with tho same glistening whiteness but bedecked with a centre of delicate fawn, which carries the name Angel Breath. Tho past year heralded three more new ones. One partakes of tho fragrance that has been cropping out in the Hoodacres gardens for the past three years. Another with largo full spikes," white as seafoam,_ having fringed or serrated petals, is called Bridal Veil; and tho third, most impressive of all, is largo and pure white, double, with an unusual sized centre that is coal black. The imagination will readily vision tho startling effect of this contrast. It is known as King Midas.

Not only have these white plants continued to come 50 to 70 per cent, true from seed, but, as noted above, elaborations on them have _ followed steadily, and more are anticipated.