THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 165 



inches from each other, yet they grew so rapidly as to cover the 

 beds quite as early as the other kinds of bedding -plants, attaining 

 the height of two feet, thus forming a dense mass of foliage and 

 flowers ; and the effect was striking, view it which way you might. 

 In addition to their usefulness as bedders, they admit of being cut 

 from for bouquets, or similar purposes. This can be done with 

 benefit to the plants, as they will continue to push out shoots and 

 flowers till the frost checks them. There are other varieties, if 

 sought for, in existence, that possess all these useful qualities, and 

 are quite hardy, needing only a slight protection to their roots during 

 winter. In my rambles along the southern coast of England, I have 

 observed numerous examples growing and flowering freely in the 

 cottage gardens, and they having no other care bestowed on them 

 than ordinary hardy plants. 



The general cultivation of the fuchsia within the last quarter of 

 a century has done much towards the riddance of a deal of the 

 labour required in preparing such plants as balsams, cockscombs, 

 and like annuals, for filling the greenhouse during the autumn and 

 summer months. ]N T ot that I would advise their cultivation being 

 entirely dispensed with, as they in themselves are beautiful ; but the 

 labour in preparation is great compared with the fuchsia, and that 

 is of some importance where there is much work to perform within 

 a given time. Fuchsias will succeed the pelargoniums if treated in 

 the following manner : — If you can obtain cuttings in the latter part 

 of February or beginning of March, having struck them, grow them 

 on as fast as you can in a moist heat, between fifty and sixty degrees. 

 A vinery just commenced would be very suitable till the vines are 

 in blossom, when they must be removed to a situation where they 

 can have more light than the vinery can afford; besides, the heat 

 for the vine will be too much for the production of robust growth 

 in the fuchsia. Of course, if you have no other suitable place, you 

 must make the best you can of the means at your command. When 

 you have checked their growth by removal to a greenhouse or pit 

 without fire-heat, you may expect them to show signs of flowering. 

 After they have done flowering, and partially shed their foliage, 

 they can be put in any out-of-the-way place where frost is excluded, 

 as they will require but little water till they break the following 

 spring. Previous to commencing their second year's growth, let 

 those shoots requiring it be pruned, that the future shape of the 

 plant may be regulated. When their shoots have grown an inch or 

 more, shake off some of the old soil, and reduce the roots with a 

 sharp knife if they need it ; then repot them into those sized pots 

 you wish to grow them in. The great evil you have now to avert ia 

 over-watering before the roots have got into the fresh soil, syringing 

 them freely morning and evening. For furnishing the greenhouse, 

 it is a good plan to have a succession struck every year, as after the 

 second year they are best replaced with the previous year's plants. 

 There may be exceptions in which you require large and old plants 

 for a special object, as the furnishing of a large and lofty conserva- 

 tory, etc., or for competition at an exhibition. 



There are other modes in which the fuchsia may be cultivated 



