FUCHSIA — FLORISTS' VARIETIES. 05 
FUCHSIA: FLOEISTS' VARIETIES. 
Nat. Order i Onagrace^ (CEnothereje, Endlieher). 
Generic Character. — Fuchsia, Plumier. — Flowers herma- 
phrodite, or sometimes polygamous by suppression. Calyx 
with the tube subglobose or ovate at the base, adherent to the 
ovary, constricted or thickened above the ovary, produced to a 
considerable length, funnel-shaped or cylindrical, coloured ; 
the limb four-parted. Corolla of four petals, inserted at the 
top of the tube of the calyx, alternating with its lobes, almost 
equalling them or shorter, convoluted, spreading or reflexed at 
the margins, entire or two-lobed ; very rarely absent. Stamens 
eight, inserted with the petals, in one row exserted, or in two 
rows included; filaments thread-like; anthers introrse, two-cell- 
ed, incumbent, bursting longitudinally. Ovary inferior, four- 
celled. Orulcs many in each cell, inserted in several rows in the 
central angle, anatropous. S/i//cthread-like; sri';/»mcapitate,with 
four grooves or four-lobcd. Berry pulpy or dry, four-celled. Seeds 
many in a cell, obovate-oblong, angular or rarely kidney-shaped ; 
testa membranous, hilum basilar. Fmhryo exalbuminous, 
orthotropous and straight, or homotropousiy curved, with the 
cotyledons plano-convex, obtuse ; radicle short, near the hilum. 
— Undcrshrubs or shrubs, sometimes arborescent, growing in 
the temperate and warmer parts of America, as also in New 
Zealand ; leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, entire ; pe- 
duncles axillary, one-flowered, solitary or aggregated, mostly 
nodding, rarely terminal, cymosely panicled ; flowers carmine- 
coloured, reddish, or more rarely rose-coloured. — (.Endlieher 
aen.Plant.ei25). 
Florists' Varieties : — 
1. Smith's Seddonii. 
2. Hanks 1 Voltiaenr. 
3. Bante' Expansion. 
BESCRIPTIOX, History, &c. — The varieties here represented were raised by E. Banks, 
Esq., of Sholden Lodge, near Deal, who is an ardent cultivator of this tribe of plants. 
Seddonii was figured from the nursery of Mr. George Smith, Hornsey Road, and is a very 
beautiful flower. The tube and sepals are blush white, beautifully reflexed, and tipped with 
green, corolla violet purple, large and circular, and the flowers are produced in great profusion. 
This variety is much in the style of Venus Victrix, very considerably larger, and of free 
growth. Voltigeur and Expansion will be sent out by Mr. Turner of the Royal Nursery, 
Slough. The former is a dark flower of very considerable promise, of good shape and size, and 
distinct in colour ; the corolla is rich purple, retaining its colour much longer than most of the 
kinds, the flower and plant of the same elegant habit as Formosa elegans, but of free growth, 
and the flower nearly double the size of that variety. Expansion is peculiar on account of the 
firm waxy appearance of the flowers, which are stout and of good shape. It blooms most 
profusely, retaining the flowers for a long time, and is of excellent habit. These flowers may be 
regarded as the best novelties that have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Exhibitions, and axe 
perfectly distinct. 
Ccxtiire. — Vv'e introduce under this head the following remarks on growing the Fuchsia for 
exhibition, by Mr. G. Glenny, which are much to the purpose : — 
" This beautiful and graceful plant is from time to time shown at the great meetings, with less 
credit than an}- other in cultivation; because, perhaps, it is the easiest to grow, and comes rapidly to 
an exhibiting size. The mistake, as we have always said, is fast growth; but it is inexperience in the 
capabilities of the plant that often causes this carelessness. The great object seems to be to show plants 
as large as possible, and hence the forced growth. The Fuchsia ought not to be shown at one year 
old. The plant should be trained as carefully as a fruit tree ; grown with a single stem for the pyramid 
form, and nothing cut away. It must not have heat at any time, and the first year all its growth 
should be made in the open air, as soon as the weather at the end of May admits of the plants being 
put out of doors. Here they grow naturally and ripen their wood ; and all the care required is to cut 
out any branch that grows out of place, or where two are in each other's way. By the end of the 
summer the growth and bloom will be alike healthy; and the plant will be in character. If, when 
they begin to drop their leaves, they are put into a cold frame or pit, their wood will harden and their 
leaves drop; and, in fact, the plant will have done its work and may rest till spring, when it should 
be pruned as carefully as a wall fruit tree. In doing Ibis, all the small weakly branches must be 
trimmed off close to the upright stem, and all the strong ones shortened to two or three eyea j the 
main upright stem is to be shortened enough to get rid of the weak point, and the plant is to be 
repotted in soil moderately good, such as loam and rotted turves one-half, and turfy peat one-hall', 
well mixed together. There w ill be many more branches produced I ban ought to be retained, and 
when they have grown enough to show the direction they will take, those that are not wanted should 
be taken clean off. but such as grow Outwards in all directions musl be kept, that the plant may form 
a complete pyramid. On no account let them have heat : but turn them round a little ever] three or 
four days, that the growth may be all alike. Instead of the plants show ing DOk( d Mil ks and weakly 
dangling branches, they will, under this treatment, be will Idled up and handsome. Avoid their 
f getting drawn, which they will do. unless they have plenty ol'air. At the end of Ma\ they will be the 
,{jfl bitter for standing out of doors altogether; but let them be put in a place sheltered from wind, and S 
i 1 vol.. in. k 
