the fuchsia: its history and cultivation. 145 



In 1839 William Knight, of Battle, in Sussex, at that time 

 one of the leading raisers and growers of Dahlias, offered for sale 

 some new seedling Fuchsias, viz. F. bronzea, F. elegans superba? 

 an abundant flowerer, F. globosa erecta, and Goliath, a fine large 

 variety, thus showing at this early date that gardeners were in 

 earnest in their endeavours to produce new varieties ; but it was 

 Mr. Thomas Cripps who startled the Fuchsia-loving world by the 

 announcement of his Venus Victrix, nearly fifty years ago. It 

 was said to have been raised at Horsmonden, near Tonbridge 

 Wells. Some have thought that this striking and quite distinct 

 variety was a sport, and not raised from seed ; but I am inclined 

 to believe that it did come from seed, as was generally under- 

 stood to be the case at the time. So rare and choice was this- 

 charming novelty considered that it met with an almost unpre- 

 cedented sale at one guinea a plant. After the introduction of 

 F. fulgens, I consider this period to have been, as regards the 

 raising of varieties, the first great epoch in the history of the 

 Fuchsia. 



After this time the Fuchsia engaged the attention of gardeners 

 in nearly all parts of the country. Fould, of Great Yarmouth ; 

 George Smith, of Tollington Nursery, Hornsey ; Fowle, of Stock- 

 well ; Halley, of Blackheath ; William Cole, of Blackheath ; and 

 subsequently one of our best hard- wooded plant growers, whom I 

 well remember — Mr. Ivery, of the Hanover Nursery, Peckham, 

 who sent out, amongst others, Sir Henry Pottinger, which was 

 raised by my old friend Mr. Cole. Anon Mr. Banks, of Deal, 

 became famous as a successful raiser of Fuchsias, and he achieved 

 wonders as regards the habit of the plant and the colour and 

 contour of the flowers. Fuchsias used then to be sent out in 

 batches annually, and new varieties were eagerly looked for, 

 sought after and purchased ; and Mr. Henderson, then of Welling- 

 ton Nursery, St. John's Wood, was in the foremost rank in dis- 

 tributing the latest novelties. Mr. H. Cannell soon stepped to 

 the front as one of the most successful growers, and by his inde- 

 fatigable industry and perseverance and love for the Fuchsia has 

 very materially contributed to its popularity, and also to the per- 

 petuation of numerous kinds which but for him would have long- 

 since been lost and numbered with the things that have been. 



By far the most notable and interesting epoch in the history 

 of the Fuchsia was that of 1855, when Messrs. Henderson 



