Plate 165 . 
FUCHSIA, PILLAR OP GOLD. 
Never has the maxim that “ demand creates the supply ” 
been more thoroughly exemplified than in the present taste for 
variegated plants; a few years ago and they were comparatively 
unknown, or, if known, were in out-of-the-way places, where no 
one cared to look at them ; now, not only has many an old plant 
been brought to light, hut variegated forms of very many of 
our garden favourites are being continually introduced; and, 
stranger still, we have found, from the researches of Mr. Fortune 
and Mr. Veitch, in Japan, that the inhabitants of that kingdom 
have been far in advance of us, and that they have variegated 
forms not only of plants and shrubs, but even of trees, for we 
find Tkuiojosis , Eetinosporas , etc., with either gold or silver va¬ 
riegation, amongst those fine collections sent home to enrich 
our gardens and parks. 
The whole question of variegation has given rise to opposite 
opinions, especially as to its cause; the opinion that it is the result 
of disease is now generally held by practical men, and is borne 
out by the fact, that when the departure from the normal condi¬ 
tion is extreme, it is impossible to propagate the plant. Thus, 
when zonate or bedding Geraniums produce, as they sometimes 
do, entirely white leaves, it invariably follows that the attempt 
to perpetuate such a plant fails; if the cutting be taken off and 
planted it is certain to damp off. We may, however, say that as 
there are some forms of disease which give additional beauty to 
the human face, brightening the eye, and giving a lovely but 
treacherous colour to the cheek, so in the plant (especially in 
such a one as that in our Plate), we may say that the additional 
colour, and the varied hues which it acquires, greatly increase 
its beautv. 
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