CULTIVATION OF THE FUCHSIA. 135 
CULTIVATION OF THE FUCHSIA. 
Ata late meeting in the study, Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, Mr. Mason 
read an essay on the cultivation of the Fuchsia. He advised the plants 
to be struck from cuttings by the latter end of January, either in 
4-inch pots, singly, or a quantity in 5-inch pots. The former method 
was preferred, as by it the plants were ready for shifting as soon as 
they were well rooted. The soil he considered best for the successful 
cultivation of the Fuchsia was two parts of good maiden loam in a 
decomposing state, one of peat or leaf-mould, and one of good rich 
manure, with a portion of silver sand, and a small quantity of bone- 
dust. This latter was considered to be of the greatest advantage, its 
mechanical agency ranking with that of charcoal, and its manuring 
property being too well known to require comment. As soon as the 
young plants were sufficiently strong, and their roots had reached the 
sides of the pots, they were to be shifted into 5-inch pots, and mode- 
rately watered and plunged in frames, giving them a gentle bottom 
heat; air was to be given moderately on mild days, for a few hours in 
the middle of the day, but great care was advised to be taken at this 
season not to admit too much, especially when the wind was keen ; for 
in such eases the young leaves are apt to be so much injured as to 
retard the growth of the plants. ‘The frames were to be covered up at 
night in proportion to the heat of the beds and the state of the 
weather, so as to maintain at least 60° Fahrenheit. By the end of 
April, if all had gone on well, the plants would require shifting, and 
this Mr. Mason considered ought to be the final shift for the season. 
He stated that the cultivator should be acquainted with the number of 
plants required, and the purposes for which they were intended, in 
order that he might be able to select the strong-growing kinds for such 
places where large plants would be required, and the more delicate 
varieties for the drawing-room, conservatory, &c. It was recommended 
that those intended to make large plants should be shifted into 9 or 
11-inch pots, giving a moderate drainage of potsherds, and covering 
the latter with a little rough peat; the soil to be pressed very lightly 
with the hand, and with care, so as not to injure the roots. The plants 
when potted, it was said, should be removed to the greenhouse, and 
placed as near the glass as possible; the night temperature of the 
house to average from 55° to 60° Fahrenheit, with a rise of 10° by day 
of solar heat. Plenty of air was to be given when the weather would 
permit; and while the plants were in a growing state, care was to be 
taken not to let them get too dry ; for, if this happened, the ripening 
process would take place, the plant would be thrown into a flowering 
state before it had acquired sufficient size, and would ultimately be of 
little or no use. Syringing both morning and evening was considered 
to be of the greatest importance. In training, to insure a handsome 
plant, only the leading shoot was to be tied up, all the side branches 
being allowed to grow without stopping, except in cases where a stron 
shoot was taking more than due precedence of the others. As the 
plants advanced in size, it was advised that they should be thinned out, 
so as to admit all the light possible. Liquid manure was to be applied 
as soon as the plants began to bloom, provided they had filled the pots 
