FEBRUARY. 33 



FUCHSIAS. 



ECLAT (G. SMITH) AND SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (WHEELER). 



(Plate 148). 

 The two beautiful varieties. Eclat and Sir Colin Campbell, of 

 which we have this month given coloured illustrations, we 

 need not say will be found indispensable additions to every 

 collection of this showy and most useful class of flowers. They 

 are in all respects first-class kinds, worthy of the raisers whose 

 names are attached to them. Of their particular merits, how- 

 ever, little need be said here, as We have been favoured with 

 the following remarks on the subject by our excellent corre- 

 spondent at Deal. Of the conditions under which they are to 

 be " let out " information will be found in our advertising 

 pages. 



Although precluded by want of space and means from attempting 

 even to grow a Fuchsia, I live in a neighbourhood which is classic 

 ground to an admirer of them ; for who is there that grows even the 

 most select collection of them that does not acknowledge that the gems 

 of his stock have come from Mr. Banks, of Sholden. His house I can 

 see from my back windows ; and as I have access to his garden at all 

 times, am not likely to be quite an ignoramus in such matters. These 

 seedlings we have all talked over together, admired or questioned as 

 the case may be, and I am afraid have often been privy to a case of 

 " horrible infanticide," for this goes on there at a rate which would be 

 especially pleasing to any fat old Chinese mandarin, who might deplore 

 the too rapid increase of population ; 4500 children are produced every 

 year, and of these " dear innocents " I have seen hundreds and 

 thousands lying out ignominiously on the dunghill to die, and for no 

 other reason than because they were not pretty enough \ for out of this 

 large number only about 50 or 60 are saved ; and some of these only 

 get a short respite, poor things. They are potted up, coaxed, and 

 petted, get quite rosy and fresh ; but it is only adorning the sacrifice, 

 for the next year sees probably between 40 and 50 doomed, as not up 

 to the mark, and of all the vast numbers perhaps only eight or ten 

 ever enter the market, and this never till after they have had a second 

 year's trial ; and then what a fuss they make. . They have hitherto 

 been simply 1-58, 2-58, and so on ; but now comes down a nursery- 

 man from London, and takes off these darlings, to bring them out. 

 The names they get are quite astonishing ; and as it would never do 

 in the great world of London to come out under disadvantageous cir- 

 cumstances, their character goes before them ; all their good points are 

 set off to advantage, and a very delicate veil of gentle charity is thrown 

 over their blemishes, for my friend has never either named or described 

 one of his Fuchsias. Messrs. Henderson, Smith, and Turner have 

 been their godfathers. And then, I grieve to state, this is not all 



VOL. XII., NO. CXXXIV. D 



