The subject of Fuchsias as objects for exhibition, has been 
considerably mooted during the past season, general dissatis¬ 
faction having been (and we think justly) expressed against the 
very artificial manner in which they have generally been placed 
upon the exhibition table ; they have been grown very tall, 
elaborately trained out, and the whole character of the plant 
destroyed. Now there are certain rules of taste which we 
think ought never to be violated, and amongst these one ought 
to be, never to overtrain a plant which is naturally graceful. 
We say overtrain , for it would be quite impossible to show 
them without some support, hut let any one notice the grace¬ 
fully pendent character of this tribe, and say whether it would 
not at once strike an observer that such plants ought to be 
left in their natural state as far as possible, a single stake in 
many cases being ample. We believe it has arisen in a great 
measure from the desire to have over-large plants, no restriction 
being placed on the size of the pots, and the great endeavour 
being to have as large and cumbersome plants as possible, and 
consequently instead of growing yearly plants, old bushes have 
been exhibited. One exhibitor did last year break through the 
trammels, and the reward that he met in being placed first, will 
we hope, be a lesson that will not be thrown away on exhi¬ 
bitors during the present season. Amidst the gay and brilliant 
crowd of flowers, the Fuchsia does not shine pre-eminent for 
richness of colour; it ought then to have in perfection that 
quality which so essentially belongs to it as a plant, graceful¬ 
ness and neatness. 
Sanspareil (fig. 1) has a scarlet tube and sepals, the under 
side lighter than the upper, finely reflexed, corolla large, pure 
white; it was exhibited at the Royal Botanic Society in July 
last, and considered the finest white-corolla Fuchsia ever offered, 
and was awarded a first-class certificate. We may add that 
another of Mr. Smith’s, similar to it, and very free-blooming, 
named conspicua , has obtained a certificate from the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Hercules (fig. 2) is an extra large flower, smooth and compact 
double corolla, of a deep violet colour, tube and sepals hand¬ 
some, free-flowering, and of good habit. 
