MONTHLY CALENDAB. 339 



■plant, and no plant is better adapted for the purpose. To grow them, how- 

 ever, in the highest pevfection, requires some judgment and skill. Cuttings 

 should be inserted in pots filled either with loam and leaf-mould, or peat and 

 silver-sand, in equal parts, to within an inch and a half of the top. Place 

 over this three-quarters of an inch of silver-sand, and level the surface to 

 make it fii-m ; then insert the cuttings, — about one inch long is the proper 

 length, — and plunge the pots in a bottom-heat of 60°, either in a pit or pro- 

 pagating-house : if the latter, cover them with a bell-glass. In three weeks 

 they may be potted into 3-inch pots, and replunged in the same bed, keeping 

 them at a temperature of from 50'' to 60°. As soon as the roots reach the 

 sides of the pots, the plants should be shifted into fresh pots, until they receive 

 their final shift into 6-, 9-, or 12-inch pots, towards the end of June. The size 

 of the pot must be regulated by the period when they are wanted to bloom. 

 If in July, a 6- or 9-inch pot will suffice ; if in September or October, a 12 will 

 not be too large. During the period of growth, the plants will require stopping 

 at least six times, care being taken never to stop the shoots immediately pre- 

 ceding or directly after the operation of shifting into larger pots. If the 

 P3'ramidal form of growth, which is the best of all forms for the fuchsia, is 

 adopted, the plants, from the first, must be trained to a single stem, and all 

 the side-shoots stopped, to make the pyramid thick and perfect. If the bush 

 form is wanted, the whole of the shoots should then be stopped at every 

 third joint, until branches enough are secured to form the bush, and then be 

 trained into the desired shape. A regular moist genial temperature must be 

 maintained during the entire period of growth, never exceeding 60° by fire- 

 heat. During bright sunshine, the glass should be slightly shaded with tiffany 

 or other material : the delicate leaves are easily injured, and the plant should 

 never receive the slightest check by being allowed to flag. Fuchsias, while 

 having their preferences, will grow in almost any soil. Garden-loam and leaf- 

 mould, in equal proportions, with some broken charcoal and sand, do very 

 well. I prefer feeding them with manure-water to mixing dung with the soil. 

 After they are well rooted, they should never be watered with clear water. A 

 carefully-shaded conservatory, guarded against the ingress of bees, is the best 

 place for them when in blossom. In such a situation, they will continue in 

 bloom for three months if the seeds are constantly picked off. Most of the 

 species are edible, and some of the green-coloured varieties really form a 

 good dessert. Sir Colin Campbell is one of the finest fruiting kinds, and the 

 best flavoured of the dark-fruited varieties ; but its great attractions are the 

 ■flowers. Nothing can be more graceful, either in form or flower, than noble 

 plants of fuchsia. They have a grace and beauty peculiar to themselves ; and 

 their price is sufficiently low, and their culture easy enough, to bring them 

 within the reach of all. 



958. Begonias. — Most of the variegated varieties do best treated as half- 

 deciduous. Retaining a few plants for winter decoration, I compel the main 

 stock to rest for the winter ; that is, they are kept warm and very dry, so 

 that many of the leaves fade. Now is the time to shake over the dry soil, 



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