172 



BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



commonly due to mistakes in watering, and if the hints that were 

 given in the notes on this important subject in the early part of the 

 chapter are followed, it is not likely that a great deal of trouble will 

 ensue. Alternate stages of absolute dryness and soddenness are bad, 

 and a uniform degree of dampness is desirable. The normal soil 

 suits Fuchsias quite well. They are generally propagated by cuttings 

 in spring. These are taken from old plants which have been kept 



in a dry state throughout the winter, which 

 have been pruned in spring, and which 

 have been syringed to insure a strong 

 break. The cuttings are made of the 

 young shoots, being taken off when about 

 three inches long, inserted firmly in sandy 

 soil, and preferably put under a handlight 

 or bell-glass. They are soon rooted, and 

 young plants thus raised are generally 

 more satisfactory than old ones, 3which, 

 however, may be grown on and flowered 

 if desired. The young plants would run 

 up tall and straggly if left to themselves, 

 and it is wise to stop them when h&yi are 

 about six inches high, and the resulting 

 side shoots may be stopped in turn when 



four inches long if much branched plants are wanted. The nipping- 



f of the growing tip with finger and thumb suffices for stopping. 



The pinched plants will be compact and bushy, will., flower freely, " 



and will remain in beauty a long time if carefully Catered, and 



supported with liquid manure. When they fo frut of bloom 



owards the end of summer the seed pods should be pklfed offfand 



the plants gradually brought into a dormant state b/dim/nishihg 



the supplies of water. They may be kept dry in a cool but frost-proof 



pkce for the winter. The purchaser of a collection of Fuchsias 



should get both single and double varieties, and different colours 



FUCHSIAS 



