74 
THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
walk, and to form groups on the lawn on fete days. To grow 
the fuchsia is like turning the key in a lock: turn it the 
right way, and the lock responds ; turn it the wrong way, and 
resistance forebodes failure. In the early months of the year 
fuchsias should grow fast, and the principal agents to pro¬ 
mote growth are warmth and moisture. In a dry, much- 
ventilated house, fuchsias fade away as if blighted, no matter 
how good the soil may be in which they are grown. But 
keep them rather close in a temperature of 50° to 60° or 
70° as the season advances, and aid with frequent syringing 
from the time they begin to grow in spring until they no 
longer need artificial heat, and they will grow freely, even in a 
bad soil. But they require good living, and there can be no 
better mixture for them than two parts of mellow turfy loam and 
one part each of rotten hotbed manure and good leaf-mould. 
At all seasons they need more moisture at the root than the 
generality of greenhouse plants, and even in winter should 
never be quite dry. To propagate them is an extremely easy 
matter, and the best time for the amateur is in February, 
when young shoots an inch or two long strike as by magic 
in a moist heat of about 60°. When planted out select 
a rather shady moist situation, and prepare the bed with a 
good dressing of leaf-mould and manure. The light kinds 
make the best display in beds, but the dark grow most freely. 
The following light flowers are the best for beds : Guiding Star , 
Mrs . Marshall , JBrilliantissima , Minnie Banks. The following 
dark varieties are fine: Splendour , William Tell , King of 
Stripes , Model. The variegated-leaved varieties are extremely 
showy, especially Cloth of Gold , Meteor , Golden Treasure , and 
Uegalia. 
Heliotropium. —If the heliotropes lack colour, they make 
amends by their delicious odour. A few of the newer kinds, 
howmver, present us with fine dark blue or violet flowers. 
They may be raised from seed or cuttings with the greatest 
ease by the aid of heat in spring. When planted out, a poor 
soil suits them best, and when housed for the winter they 
must have but little water, and never experience the slightest 
touch of frost. The best are Florence Nightingale , Surpasse 
Gauscoi , Ftoile de Marseille , and Modele. 
Iresene. —The most valuable of all the dark-leaved bed¬ 
el ers sent out for many years past is Iresene Lindeni. It is 
neat and compact in growth, possesses a hardy constitution, 
