^^ 



CULTURE OF FAVORITE PLANTS. 



^:>^ FUCSSJA. 



'v^p^ /7=^^f WINGING bells and neat, glossy foliage mark the Fuchsia, which has 

 \C\^"'ir-~N^;i^x3 ''^' '"'"ly years formed one of the most attractive of plants for both 



^'V^lv©)) > giccnhouse and parlor culture. Dryness of the atmosphere, one great 

 -~^^^^&a~f -^ > '^'•"'■'^ ^^ failure, can be obviated by sprinkling in the summer, and a 

 c ^^)^f/^-^ ^ ^ jV) \ cscl of water on the stove in winter. Buds drop from several causes, 

 IJ^^T^^ "^ '•'^'^ fault above mentioned being one, and from the two extremes of 

 'J^ J^ kecpnig the loots either too dry or too wet. In summer, when in bloom, it 

 w ould be ad\ I'-.ihle to water the plants twice a day if the pot is pretty full of 

 roots and the shrub of fair size. This should be thoroughly done, but on no 

 account should the plant be allowed to stand in a saucer of water. This advice 

 presupposes an open soil and free drainage. After the flowering is over, water 

 should be given more sparingly — about twice a week ^ as growth at this season (except 

 in the winter-flowering varieties) should not be encouraged. They can be wintered in 

 any common cellar, free from frost. Among the best varieties for indoor blooming in winter 

 are the F. speciosa,the F. serratifolia multiflora and the Rose of Castile. For outdoor bloom- 

 ing they require a partially shaded situation, under trees or arbors or in the vicinity of other 

 bushes; though when planted they will bloom in a sunny place also, but not so well. 



Fuchsias are propagated from slips, and when required for large plants should be kept 

 continually growing, shifting into the next size larger pots as soon as the roots touch the 

 sides, until they reach the largest size, when they should be transplanted into boxes oj- 

 tubs, where they may be left for many years, giving them an annual top-dressing of cow- 

 manure, and frequent applications of liquid manure during the season of growth. They 

 can also be grown from the seed, sometimes giving new varieties. The rule for soil is 

 one part each of loam, leaf-mold and cow-manure; but for a fine specimen plant it should 

 be at least one-half cow-manure. 



FITJSrKIA. 



i 



REAT numbers of people know this species of the Liliaceous 

 family under the more common title of the Day Lily, though it is 

 easily distinguishable from the Hemerocallis, or common Day Lily, 

 both in the leaf and flower. The leaves of the Funkia are obovate, 

 while those of the Hemerocallis are a broadish linear; the flowers 

 of the latter are a light yellow, and those of the Funkia a bluish 

 te, and somewhat smaller, with a tubular shape. Another difference 

 easy to be observed is that the Funkia blooms from July to September, while 

 the other is earlier. The botanic name, given in honor of a German botanist, 

 has not quite universally replaced the older name in popular acceptance, and 

 the delay has occasioned some little confusion in the minds of many amateurs. 

 The Funkia, which is fast becoming recognized as the true Day Lily, is from 

 1 Japan. Its finest species, the F. subcordata, or Japonica of the catalogues, the 

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