slight biographical sketch that our readers may 
not be wholly uninformed of the character of that 
person whose name distinguishes one of the most 
splendid genera of plants that adorns our gardens. 
It has appeared to be desirable that the present 
species of Fuchsia should be more generally known; 
not from the size of its flowers, for these are far 
inferior to many of the new varieties which have 
lately been raised, but from the advantages that 
are presented to the cultivator from its hardy char- 
acter. Planted out, even in an exposed situation, 
it bears our winters, exceedingly well, as a decidu- 
ous shrub. It is the hardiest known plant of the 
whole genus, and consequently a species that may 
be employed advantageously for infusing so desir- 
able a character into hybrid varieties. 
When first introduced, this plant was cultivated 
in the greenhouse, and from the few flowers it 
produced, disappointed the hopes of its possessors; 
planted in the borders, however, it proved to be 
a most abundant flowerer during the latter part of 
the summer, after which it becomes covered by its 
large black berries. 
These properties, combined with its compact 
habit of growth, and its hardiness, make it desir- 
able, even amongst those species whose flowers are 
double the size. It was imported from the Falk- 
land Islands, and is a mere variety of the established 
species — macrostemon. Conica, globosa, grandis, 
and some others of the older sorts, are also var- 
ieties; which every one will have been convinced of 
who has raised seedlings from it, such is their 
variable and opposite character. 
