HOW TO GROW SPECIMEN PLANTS. 303 



Fuchsias of some kinds, particularly Corymbiflora and 

 its varieties, naturally carry large bunches of blossoms, 

 tassel-like at the ends of the branches. The best thing 

 we can do is to remove all the side growth to the height 

 we wish the head to begin, to stop all the other branches 

 to two joints, until we get a sufficient number of branches 

 to hang all round, and then to let them grow to bloom. 

 The pendulous habit of the plant is favorable to this, 

 and the blooms fairly weigh down the most obstinate 

 of the shoots, so that the plant forms a pretty object. 



These varieties of fuchsia do not receive the atten- 

 tion their beauties merit ; probably because they do not 

 bloom as freely as others with little care ; but a well- 

 grown plant is a conspicuous object in the green-house. 

 They also bloom with us at a season when other fuchsias 

 have not come on, that is, from February to May. 



In growing plants for exhibition, we excite them to 

 what we call perfection by restraint ; for convenience of 

 carrying, we limit the size, and thus the number of flowers ; to 

 color, by unnatural means (this applies chiefly to out-door 

 flowers) ; to compactness, by vicious training. Specimen 

 plants may be made of hardy plants and shrubs, and of 

 annuals. The pruning and training must be adapted to 



