235 
Fuchsia macrostemotij variety discolor, from its being a shy 
flowerer, is nearly discarded from gardens. A plant has been 
out of doors, in the Birmingham Garden, for about three 
years, has proved deciduous; and, last season (1842), flowered 
splendidly, and also ripened seeds. As the plant is now 
become large, it resists the effects of frost, and is become one 
of the most ornamental shrubs. 
Berberis empetrifolia would appear, by the Botanical Register, 
to require the protection of a frame. This must be owing to 
the soil it is grown in ; here, in peat, it may almost be termed 
a weed. 
Gardoquia betonicioides proves perfectly hardy, as a herba- 
ceous plant, in a middling soil. 
Fuchsia virgata becomes, as it were, herbaceous, being cut 
down every year, but springs up vigorously every spring, and 
flowers in profusion. 
The Mignionette, on light soil, comes up plentifully every 
season from self-sown seed, proving that the seed is hardy 
enough. Potatoes, also, come up freely from self-sown seed, 
even when potatoes, accidentally left in the soil, perish. Other 
instances of seeds vegetating, might be given, to prove that 
seeds are more hardy than the plants. 
Leycesteria formosa has become very ornamental as a hardy 
shrub, in a light soil. 
A light, dry, deep, soil, and elevated situation, are most 
favourable for many plants ; light sandy peat for others, whilst 
a few of the more tender plants do best in a stiff damp soil. 
The soil ought to be loosened up before, and sometimes during, 
winter. Close covering is worse than none, unless carefully 
attended to, by being removed to give light and air often. 
Again, after long-continued frost, caution must be observed in 
admitting light and air. See Auctarium, section 184. 
Deep planting has been recommended by some, for the pre- 
servation of the roots of tender plants; the good, however, is 
counterbalanced by the puny growth of those planted too 
deeply. 
It does not appear to be the intensity or continuation of frost 
that does the greatest injury. 3Iany plants that will bear frost 
with impunity, are killed readily by the alternations of our 
climate, particularly when vegetation has commenced. 
218. AUCTABICM. 
