88 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



Of wall-fruit notliing surprises tourists and our Southern friends more when 

 they pay us a visit than the extraordinarily fine Apples which decorate the walls 

 of many of the gardens in this county — Plums, Apricots, and Nectarines in 

 some cases giving variation to the more common wall - fruit. If the 

 first instalment of " Fruit-Culture in the North " meets your approval, I shall be 

 glad to continue it in the succeeding number of the ' Gardener.' 



FoRSS, Caithnesshire. N. S. S. 



Nov. 14, 1872. 



THE FUCHSIA FOR BEDDING PURPOSES. 



The Fuchsia is seldom used for this purpose, and I cannot think why, 

 as it is a handsome plant, and one easily grown. For bedding in 

 masses, or along with Calceolarias or similar plants, spring- struck 

 plants are best ; but for the back of borders, the larger the plants are, 

 of course the handsomer. One of the great advantages of the Fuchsia 

 is, that it can be saved during the winter so easily ; and this, of course, 

 is a great advantage to those who have little or no glass. I have 

 also used a now almost extinct kind, the old Fuchsia fulgens, and 

 splendid it looks. It was a large old plant, and I made it form the 

 centre of a circular bed. Every one who saw it admired it, and many 

 asked what it was — Was it a Fuchsia? — never having seen it before ; 

 its long pendant orange-scarlet blooms and handsome foliage pro- 

 ducing a wonderfully good effect. I am very fond of all kinds of 

 Fuchsias, even the old Riccartonia, of which in Devonshire I have 

 seen hedges made, and in Ireland have seen it growing to the height 

 of 10 and 12 feet. During winter, Fuchsias may be saved in an old 

 pit or shed with coal-ashes round their roots, and must be kept quite 

 dry ; or they can be plunged under the stage • in the greenhouse. 

 When the spring comes, pot them in a mixture of loam, sand, 

 manure, and a little peat if you have it — if not, rotten turf. Give them 

 plenty of water, and keep them growing on till it is time to turn them 

 out in the beds. A. H. 



Upper Norwood. 



[Fuchsia fulgens is a grand old plant. — Ed.] 



A WORD FOR YOUNG GARDENERS. 



If I am mistaken in supposing that your reference to S. D. means Down South 

 put "this and that " into the waste-paper basket, as I have no wish to urge my 

 ideas against your better judgment. Otherwise, I will state I thought you 

 knew me as one of your oldest subscribers. I make proper use of your publica- 

 tions and others by giving them to my gardener, after I have myself studied 

 them, and he has now a goodly row of your volumes, highly valued. I am an old 



