Plate 204 . 
FUCHSIA, CLOTH OP GOLD. 
It is curious to remark the various steps in the progress of 
variegated plants: take, for example, the Fuchsia we first 
figured, Carter’s Meteor , a plant on which the flowers were 
totally useless, and only the foliage of any account. Last year 
we figured Smith’s Pillar of Gold , in which the flowers were 
tolerably good both in form and colour, while in the present 
variety we have a clear and good variegation, with a flower of 
first-rate character; for it is a sport from that old and well- 
known and valued variety, Souvenir de Chiswick. 
Fuchsia Cloth of Gold was originated by Mr. Stafford, of 
Hyde, near Manchester, the raiser of those two excellent 
flowers Aurea floribunda , Calceolaria, and Stafford's Gem , fancy 
Dahlia; and we are indebted to him for the following notes 
concerning it:— 44 It originated (like other sports) from a cut¬ 
ting on a large plant of Souvenir de Chiswick coming acciden¬ 
tally variegated. The cutting was struck, and grown into a 
plant two or three feet in height. Another plant struck from 
it, grew three feet, and as it showed no inclination to vary, it 
was at the end of last summer propagated for sale, and sixty 
or eighty young plants grown through the autumn, most of 
them flowering; and neither then nor at any time since has it 
varied, except occasionally to get so yellow in the young plants 
as to refuse in that state to grow; but this does not matter in 
an old plant, but is rather an improvement. Of course no de¬ 
ciduous variegated plant is so permanent in colour as variegated 
evergreens, but this retains it as well as it is possible for any 
variegated Fuchsia to do. I believe if I had twice the stock, 
and continued to advertise it, I should have sold it. Smith’s 
Pillar of Gold now shows the red veins, and comes more yellow, 
