THE FUCHSIA 



give it a little more body than it would have 

 were this left out. It should be light, friable, 

 and porous. 



The best of drainage must be provided. 

 While the Fuchsia is fond of considerable 

 water at its roots, it does not like to stand in a 

 soil so wet that it is little better than mud. See 

 to it, therefore, that at least two inches of 

 drainage material goes into every eight or nine- 

 inch pot. Let a plant get really dry and it will 

 drop its leaves and buds. Make it a rule to 

 water your plants daily. 



The Fuchsia is almost as fond of water on 

 its foliage as at its roots. You cannot grow it 

 to perfection unless frequent showerings are 

 given. If one has a florist's syringe — some- 

 thing every amateur should have — water is 

 easily thrown all over the plant. The applica- 

 tion of water, especially to the under side of the 

 leaves, will be of great benefit in keeping down 

 one of its enemies, the red spider. If sufiicient 

 moisture is not provided for its foliage, this 

 pest frequently injures the plant to such an 

 extent that its buds and leaves drop, precisely 

 as when it has been allowed to get dry at its 

 roots. Shedding of buds and foliage is almost 

 always due to one or the other of these causes. 



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