146 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



announced the distribution of the "white corollas," both double 

 and single, which had been raised at Newton Abbott by Mr. 

 Story, who died about the time his plants were being sent out. I 

 think there was a batch of six, for which I understood at the 

 time a hundred pounds were paid. How so great an achievement 

 was attained we know not. Mr. Story having passed away, we 

 are without any data as to how Fuchsias with white corollas were 

 first produced. The process of hybridising had been practised 

 for some years, and a great change in variety had been made ; 

 flowers with white tubes and sepals had been obtained, and the 

 petals forming the corolla had been produced in various shades 

 of colour, so that doubtless the constituents were not wanting 

 which, under peculiar circumstances in the laws that govern the 

 vegetable kingdom, would bring new forms into existence. Many 

 characteristics that had hitherto been in embryo, or not fully 

 developed, would thus be produced. 



Of late years Fuchsias have fallen back in the ranks of 

 generally cultivated subjects, the explorations of plant-collectors 

 having added so many new things to our collections ; and with 

 many people there is an inherent disposition to throw aside old 

 friends, in the plant world at least, for new. There is a mania 

 that propels with electric-like force for a period, and then away 

 we are driven in haste bordering on precipitancy. We must 

 ever be seeking something new, something fresh ; even the old 

 names are expunged and new ones put in their place. 



In the early days of Fuchsia growing, plant-houses were of a 

 very different description to what they are now, and seemed 

 peculiarly adapted to prolong the flowering season. I may 

 mention, as an illustration, that about 1843 I had a very large 

 conservatory under my charge, arranged and planted in winter- 

 garden style with plants of almost every description. Amongst 

 them were Fuchsias trained 14 feet high and upwards — such 

 kinds as were then in cultivation, viz. F. coccinea, F. gracilis, 

 F. conica, F. corymbiflora, &c. — and these gave a continuous 

 supply of bloom during the whole of the summer months and 

 late into the autumn. This old conservatory was 30 feet high 

 in the centre, and one of the first plants of Araucaria excelsa 

 introduced into this country was planted in the large central bed, 

 with Camellias, &c. Here the Fuchsia did well, the place being 

 lofty and partially shaded with vines trained under the glass. 



