260 
THE FUCHSIA. 
the stamens should extend from the corolla to be seen to advan¬ 
tage, and the style or pistil still farther; as regards the size of 
the flower, the larger the better, so long as the parts are propor¬ 
tionate, and the foot-stalks long and strong enough to support 
them gracefully. For my own part, I shall not be at ail surprised 
to see Fuchsias in a few years three times the size we now have 
them. 
I have already stated the corolla and sepals should be distinct 
in colour; now in most of them this is the case, but in a very 
slight degree ; the contrast should be very striking, such as pure 
white tube and sepals, with deep purple corolla, or deep crimson 
tube and sepals, and white corolla: any seedlings of this charac¬ 
ter would be acquisitions which I should like to possess. 
Before entering into the details of the cultivation of the Fuchsia, 
I will say a few words respecting the propagation, chiefly as it 
regards the different seasons for this operation ; for instance, to 
obtain fine specimens for exhibition in the month of May, cuttings 
should be taken from plants that have not bloomed, in the month 
of September, struck in the usual way, and kept growing all the 
winter in a temperature ranging from 56 to 60° ; by taking- 
cuttings at the time I have just mentioned, plants 6, 7, or 8 feet 
high, according to their different habits, may be obtained in the 
highest perfection in the month of May. Under even judicious 
management, in the course of six weeks these specimens, which 
were without fault in May, become languid on account of the 
numberless flowers they have produced : so that, as a matter of 
course, to have a fine exhibition through the season, you must 
have succession plants. In order to obtain this object, propagate 
the second stock by putting in cuttings in December, or if you 
buy plants, do so a month later; and for the third batch have 
young plants in the middle of April, which will keep up a show 
till October, so that by three sets of plants yt>u will have a fine 
show for six months, beginning in May. 
The e( one-shift system” of cultivation may be adopted in the 
potting of Fuchsias, but I do not altogether recommend it: the 
best plan is a progressive one, say from sixties, thirty-twos, six- 
teens, and eights, which they ought to have to grow them to 
perfection. The Fuchsia is a plant of such easy culture, that 
they will grow in almost any good garden mould, yet in this 
