THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF GARDENING. 
325 
There is no degree of opening so perfect as 
the complete reversal of the sepals to form a 
globe by reflexing. 
There is not two shades of red that can be 
good, however distant in shade, as compared 
with those of completely opposite colours, 
though very light and very dark may be 
tolerated for want of better. 
The habit of a Fuchsia is important. Those 
which grow rapidly, and become naturally long 
in the joints, and have the leaves far apart, 
are objectionable, for they never can be made 
to form bushy graceful specimens ; they may 
be stopped frequently, and the lateral branches 
be thus encouraged, which lateral shoots may 
again be stopped, and by these means some- 
thing may be done to increase their beauty ; 
but the only way to bring such a habit into 
any thing like passable appearance, is to grow 
them in very plain loam, without dung or 
dressing, and to encourage rather a stunted 
growth ; this will help them greatly, although 
they will not grow half so fast. Others that 
are naturally very short and thick can hardly 
be grown in compost too rich. 
The footstalks of the flowers should be long 
enough to allow the blooms to fall well below 
the foliage ; and there should be flowers at the 
base of every leaf. 
THE PROPERTIES OF THE FUCHSIA. 
1. The petals of the inside, or corolla, must 
be a different colour from the outside, for 
contrast is essential ; those, therefore, which 
are all of a colour are comparatively worthless. 
2. The brighter the scarlet outside, and the 
deeper the purple inside, the better the flower. 
The loss of the rich purple is fatal, therefore, 
to the scarlet Fuchsia. But a Fuchsia may 
be white outside, and in that case a bright 
scarlet corolla would be a good contrast, 
though a purple would be better. 
3. The form of the buds or drops before 
they open cannot be too round, because that 
form is the most beautiful before opening, and 
gives the widest sepals when open. 
4. The footstalk of the flower should be 
long enough to let the bloom fall beneath the 
leaves, and not long enough to let them hang 
into the branch below them, for the flowers 
should all hang free of the foliage. 
5. The corolla should be large and close, 
and the sepals should reflex, to expose their 
inside surface, and to show the corolla out well. 
6. The anthers should hang conspicuously 
below the corolla, and the pistil below them. 
7. The flowers of a Fuchsia should come 
out at the base of every leaf all over the plant, 
and we have many which do so. 
THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF GARDENING. 
If there were any doubt as to the influence 
of gardening on the minds and general habits 
of the working classes, the simple fact, that 
the clergy of all denominations are foremost 
in the ranks of its patrons and promoters, 
should convince us of its beneficial tendency; 
but a transitory glance at the inmates of a 
cottage where the garden is neatly cultivated, 
is enough to show that the concomitants of 
industry — comfort and prudence — reign over 
the affairs of the place. In a work, which we 
hardly recollect the subject of, there was 
almost a sermon comprised in a single sen- 
tence. It is strongly impressed on our me- 
mory, and is pertinent to the matter here. 
The author says : — " Gardening is the most 
rational of all recreations. It teaches fore- 
thought, industry, and economy of time. It 
exerts the mind, invigorates the frame, and 
constantly reminds us of the great God whose 
hand is imprinted on every leaf, and who, in 
his bountiful goodness, rewards us with the 
fruits of the earth. To teach the cottager to 
manage his garden, is to lead him to happi- 
ness. To induce the higher classes to love 
flowers, is to find them innocent gratification, 
and provide employment for thousands." 
There is truth in every word of this. " Gar- 
dening is the most rational of all recreations." 
It is healthful, and every hour expended in it 
as an occupation is rewarded by the effect of 
it on the crops. The industry bestowed on 
a garden is always profitable, and the profit 
sweetens labour. It is a sorry thing to con- 
template the hours that are wasted by the 
labouring classes in those places where there 
are no gardens, and it is scarcely to be helped. 
What is a man to do when he leaves his work ? 
It is not to be supposed that he can sit down 
quietly for hours; yet what can he occupy his 
mind with ? He may while away some of the 
time with reading ; but reading, notwithstand- 
ing cheap literature, is expensive. He seeks 
in society the amusement which he cannot 
find alone, and society can only be found at 
the public-house ; then there is a double evil, 
because, besides the waste of precious hours, 
there is a necessary expenditure ; or, perhaps, 
he resorts to the skittle-ground, the bagatelle 
table, or other gambling amusements, in which 
case the loss to his family is far more serious. 
Man is a social animal, and unless he has 
occupation, he gets into mischief. It is almost 
certain that a man without a garden goes to 
the public-house ; and he cannot do so without 
spending money, which would be useful on 
his children's back, or in the purchase of 
household comforts. Many an industrious 
