•54 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



SITUATIONS FOR FINE-FOLIAGED PLANTS. 



{Continued from page 36.) 

 The beds for these should be rounds, ovals, or irregular patches on the 

 grass ; the latter is best near water. Make the beds as rich as possible. For 

 the sake of showing the leaves we raised the bed in flat terraces .; also to 

 retain the manure water, of which they cannot have too much. With all due 

 deference to the taste of our Paris friends, by no means edge them with 

 flowers, it takes from the outline of the leaves where the grass shows them off 

 to advantage. 



Considering the great extent this sort of plants is now used for decorative 

 purposes in and around Paris, it is surprising the limited variety : I therefore 

 hope parties will strike out fresh courses for themselves among the many 

 beautiful large-leaved plants neglected at home. For example, a group of 

 the Spanish Cardoons among these named was the most admired by parties 

 who did not know its culinary properties. Why this should be a drawback 

 I do not know, unless the same ruld applies to this as to the Parsley in the 

 ladies' nosegays. 



Among the variegated foliaged shrubs Negundo variegata is most used ; 

 next, the Red Virginian Maple, variegated Syringa, and variegated Elder. 

 The latter is rather a strong grower, but very pretty from its occasionally 

 throwing white shoots. The Red Elder is not red in England at any time. 

 The Negundo wants something to show it off. Like most people in England 

 who grow the better sorts of Rhododendrons, we like to give them plenty of 

 breathing room. It occurred to us that by introducing a few of the Negundo 

 and Maple into the spaces, the green of the Rhododendron would take the 

 sickly objection to this away. This we did two years ago with complete 

 success. They are not strong growers, and only budding when the Rhododen- 

 drons are in bloom, adding interest for the remainder of the season, more 

 particularly if the surface of the beds is covered with the beautiful Vinca 

 variegata. 



Cleveden. J. Fleming. 



THE NEW FUCHSIAS. 



It may very well be asked, What has become of all the seedling Fuchsias 

 which have been sent out during the last four or five years ? How is it that 

 we so rarely meet with a new variety at any of the horticultural meetings, 

 either in London or in the provinces ? This is a subject that has completely 

 puzzled me ; and I cannot understand why, among all the novelties included 

 in what are termed florists' flowers, we so rarely see a new Fuchsia. It cannot 

 be that novelties are not yearly produced ; the spring catalogues of the prin- 

 cipal growers of this elegant flower prove this. How, then, is it that we do 

 not see them at our exhibitions ? It is somewhat remarkable that since the 

 year 1858 we have seen nothing exhibited superior to Souvenir de Chiswick, 

 Little Bo-Peep, and flowers of that stamp among the red varieties ; nor since 

 then have we seen any advance upon Fair Oriana, Fairest of the Fair, and 

 Silver Swan among the white varieties. 



Mr. Banks, the king of Fuchsias, has not abated his zeal and love for 

 this flower we well know, from the splendid varieties advertised as raised by 

 him. Mr. G. Smitb, of the Hornsey Road, another successful raiser of 

 Fuchsias, still continues to send out every year noble varieties of his peculiar 

 style. But who ever sees them in public ? It would occupy too much space, 



