172 THE FUCHSIA FULGENS. 



stems have attained a foot or so in height, they should be carefully 

 staked. Just before they commence flowering, if the weather happen 

 to be dry, tliey should have a few good waterings, given them in the 

 evenings ; it is somewhat important not to water promiscuously, as 

 some evil may result fi'om the water lodging at the base of the leaves, 

 it ought rather to be poured carefully on the soil between the plants. 

 As soon as the foliage is matured, and somewhat decayed, or at least, 

 become well ripened, the bulbs should be taken up and well dried by 

 exposure to the sun, and afterwards removed to an airy situation, free 

 from both damp and frost, where they should remain during the winter, 

 until wanted the following season. The bulbs should, in most cases, 

 be divided and planted singly, and those only used which are strong 

 enough to flower; these are so readily produced, that the small offsets 

 seldom need be retained, as they take some time before they have 

 strength enough to produce flowers. G. cardinalis flowers best if left 

 undisturbed, the beds being well protected from frost. The routine 

 of treatment desirable for the more tender kinds consists in potting 

 them early in March, and keeping them either in a greenhouse, or 

 moderately close frame for a short time, tlien removing them to a cold 

 frame until the planting season arrives ; they should be induced to 

 grow as freely as possible here, at the same time allowing them abun- 

 dance of air. By the beginning of May, they may be planted out, in 

 beds, prepared as already recommended. The genus is rather a sportive 

 one, and many very beautiful hybrids have been originated. When 

 this is made an object, tlie seed should be saved with much care, as to 

 the crossing. It should be sown about the beginning of March, 

 thinly, in pans of light soil, such as a mixture of peat, leaf mould, 

 and sandy loam, covered with soil to the depth of about half an inch, 

 and placed in a close frame, where it will soon vegetate. The only 

 care tiie seedlings require is the occasional application of a little water, 

 and protection from the ravages of snails and slugs. When their 

 seasonal growth is completed, they should be ripened off in the usual 

 manner, taking the precaution of not drying them too much, as they 

 are liable to perish when that is the case : a cool place, if dry, is, 

 therefore, most suitable for them. In spring, they should be mode- 

 rately excited ; and when fliirly started, they sliould be transplanted 

 into fresh pans or pots, in rather more nutritious soil than before. 

 Encourage them to make as much and as vigorous growth as possible 

 during the season, and then rest them as before. The next season 

 many of them will produce bloom. 



THE FUCHSIA FULGENS, &c. 



The addition of such a beautiful variety of very distinct hybrid 

 Fuchsias within the last five years, has tended to a neglect in cultivating 

 many of the previous kinds which were held in estimation. I am sorry 

 that among the number so treated, the fine species F. fulgens is included. 

 The principal objection to it is, that there is not an equality in the pro- 

 portion of flowers to the foliage, and that in the usual mode of raanage- 

 jnent the plant assumes a coarse bush'like form, This objectionable 



