384 [Assembly 



tanical species, to the hybridation of these with the first hybrids ob- 

 tained, and above all to the powers of variability which the Fuchsia 

 possesses. The producers of these, both French and English, have 

 profited by favorable circumstances. By hybridizing and planting, 

 they have brought out new varieties. The author distinguishes the 

 three new botanical species introduced into France since 1844, and 

 •which according to his view will be very useful for hybridation. 

 These are, Fuchsia serratifolia, macrantha, and montana. He gives 

 interesting details of the origin, discovery, and introduction into Eng- 

 land and France. Mons. Miellez, of Lille; and Mons. Salter, of 

 Versailles, are distinguished in its culture. The most beautiful Fuch- 

 sias of this day, are due to Mons. Miellez. The Fuchsia Napoleon, 

 was derived from twelve hundred seeds, of which only five were of 

 the first order. 



The first species of Fuchsia was discovered by Father Plumier, a 

 religious minim, about the end of the seventeenth century; at the 

 time that learned botanist went the fourth time to America for the 

 purpose of examining the tree which produced the Quinquina, (Je- 

 suit's Bark.) Father Plumier was the discoverer of this genus of 

 flowers, and dedicated it to Fuchs, the Bavarian botanist, who, in 

 1703, published a botanical work under the title of Nova Plantarum 

 Americanarum Genera, in which, for the first time, mention is made 

 of the genus Fuchsia, which then comprehended but a single species, 

 the one discovered by Father Plumier, viz: Fuchsia triphylla flora 

 coccinea. Since that period, botanists, travellers, and horticulturists, 

 and zealous collectors, have successively enriched and augmented the 

 beautiful species of Fuchsia. Standish, De Candolle, Dr. Dietrich, 

 Miers, Hartweg, Ruiz, and Pavon, Harrison, Smith of Dalton, May, 

 Miellez, Salter, and Audot. 



The Treatise contains instructions for the culture of the plant, 

 how to obtain fine seeds, &c., &c. The best composition of soils 

 for the plants, and the most suitable stasons and modes of planting 

 and growing, of budding and grafting them. Fuchsia is easily mul- 

 tiplied by budding — much use has not yet been made of grafting. 

 Delicate varieties must be grafted on vigorous ones, and many vari- 

 eties on the same plant, producing that mixture of flowers of diverse 

 form and colors, which is practiced in Belgium on the Azaleas, 



The varieties already produced, amount to five hundred and forty- 

 one, all accurately described. The world will read with pleasure 



