230 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



Greenhouse and House Gardening. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



NOTES OF FUCHSIA SERRATIFOLIA. 



BY C. E. P., QUEENS, N. Y. 



Among the many varieties of Fuchsias that 

 have been introduced into cultivation, the Fuch- 

 sia serratifoHa is one of the most distinct, and is 

 worthy of being more extensively cultivated 

 than it is. As it is only to be found in a few col- 

 lections, I desire, with your permission, to call 

 the attention of the readers of the ^Ionthly to 

 this magnificent plant, and I hope that some of 

 them will give it a trial, as I am confident that 

 they will find it to be a most desirable addition 

 to their collection of Fuchsias. 



Fuchsia serratifoHa is a robust growing species, 

 attaining a height of from eight to ten feet, and 

 in habit it is stiff and bushy, with a stout erect 

 stem and large leaves of a rich green color, the 

 flowers being produced one from the axil of each 

 leaf, and one from \\ to 2 inches long, and con- 

 sist of a long rosy tube tipped with yellowish 

 green, the petals being scarlet with a shade of 

 orange, and as the flowers droop and hang below 

 the branches they always present an elegant 

 appearance. It is said to be a native of Peru, 

 and flowers from November to March. 



This Fuchsia requires a somewhat different 

 mode of treatment from the summer flowering 

 varieties. The best mode of cultivation is to 

 take cuttings of the strong and healthy shoots 

 about the first of March, and as soon as they are 

 rooted, pot them off into three-inch pots, and 

 place the plants in a light, warm place, where 

 they will not become drawn, and as soon 

 as the pots become filled with roots, shift 

 into five-inch pots. As soon as all danger of 

 frost is over, turn the plants out into the open 

 border. The plants should be tied to neat stakes, 

 and must be pinched back occasionally so as to 

 form nice bushy plants. About September 10th 

 take them up carefully and pot them, place the 

 plants in a close place until they have taken 

 hold of the soil. After they have taken hold 

 they can be exposed to the sun until it is time 

 for them to be taken into the house, where they 

 will bloom finely during the winter months if 

 grown in a warm, light place. After the plants 



have ceased to flower, they can be cut back into 

 shape; turn them out of their pots, and re-pot 

 them into as small a sized pot as is possible ; but 

 do not crowd the roots too much. As soon as 

 they commence to grow, shift into larger pots 

 and treat them precisely as recommended for 

 young plants. The plants can also be plunged 

 in the border during the summer months, but I 

 prefer planting them out, as the plants do not 

 require so much attention, and besides they will 

 be found to be perfectly healthy when they are 

 wanted for the house; while plants that are 

 plunged in pots are too often' found to be un- 

 healthy in the fall, when it is too late to afford 

 them any remedy. For potting-soil I use two 

 parts of well rotted sods and one part well 

 rotted manure. I give the pots good drainage, 

 and give liquid manure-water, weekly, during the 

 time the plants are in blossom. 



NEW LIFE GERANIUM. 



BY MRS. M. D W , YARMOUTH, MAINE. 



Had this novelty maintained its original price 

 I would never have been its happy owner; but 

 when it fell from $5.00 to 50 cents, one could 

 quite well afford to add such a very distinguished 

 plant to a collection. 



Mine came to me in winter, hundreds of 

 miles, when the days were intensely cold, and 

 a severe snow storm raging — the Venn er storm — 

 bat when I opened the box, there it was. as pert 

 and bright as though growing in its sheltered, 

 sunny home, its cluster of buds revealing here 

 and there a bit of color, one pip so far open as to 

 show the white stripe on the deep scarlet ground. 

 Day after day those buds expanded into bloom, 

 no two alike in their markings. They were 

 striped, splashed, dotted with white How I 

 admired the pretty thing! 



New Life has not been homesick at all in her 

 new home, judging from her health and growth. 

 No sooner had that first truss bloomed and died 

 than new buds sprung forth, and new leaves 

 have grown. 



Mr. H. Cannell, of London, England, its 

 originator in our Centetmial year, says of it : 

 " Its propagation will not cease until it is seen 

 cultivated in the windows and gardens of every 



