Fuchsia 



A hybrid, known as F. riccartoni, is often much 

 advocated as specially hardy for gardens. It was raised 

 at Riccarton near Edinburgh nearly a century ago one 

 of its parents being F. globosa and will stand a 

 Scottish winter in many places. It has the globular 

 buds and short broad flowers of its parent, with the 

 usual red and purple colouring. The leaves are tiaged, 

 too, with the prevailing purple. 



Prior to 1840, only Fuchsias with red and purple 

 flowers were known, but about that time they began to 

 be raised from seed, and many crosses were effected. 

 In this way varieties having white sepals and red 

 corollas appeared. Later on, too, plants were raised 

 with white corolla and double flowers, but up to the 

 present time not any of these can be called hardy shrubs. 



The Fuchsia belongs to the family Onagracece, and 

 has a curious assortment of relatives the willow herbs, 

 evening primrose, and enchanters' nightshade being 

 among them. 



Soil and Cultivation. Fuchsias require a rich loamy 

 soil, fairly well drained. They are very easily propa- 

 gated by cuttings struck under glass, and they may 

 also be raised without difficulty from seed. 



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