May 22, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
601 
that purpose something that can be put on, and when 
not required taken off again, having an objection to 
permanent shading, as I consider the more the plants . 
are exposed to the light in the earlier and latter parts 
of the day, so much the more does it conduce to the 
health of the plants in every way, and to ensure a 
healthy action the plants must be kept in a free- 
growing state, checks of any description must be 
avoided, andair abundantly but judiciously supplied. As 
the pots become filled with roots, the plants should be 
constantly shifted into larger ones, more especially if 
large plants be the object, using at all times plenty of 
drainage, for it is much 
better to be compelled to 
water twice a day rather 
than the plants should 
become water-logged. It 
is best to keep the balls 
of earth in that happy 
medium state, neither too 
wet or too dry. In hot 
weather it is of immense 
benefit to keep the floor 
of the house, or the ma¬ 
terial on which the plants 
are arranged, constantly 
moist by syringing or 
otherwise. It is not good 
practice to use the syringe 
overhead too frequently, 
but the vapours arising 
from sub-waterings are 
invigorating in effect, 
more particularly during 
hot dry weather. 
Soil in which to grow 
the Fuchsia is a matter, 
of course, of paramount 
importance, no plant or 
animal can maintain a 
healthy action, unless 
supplied with food con¬ 
genial to its natural re¬ 
quirements. The com¬ 
post that I have found to 
be the best suited, is that 
from a good sheep or 
meadow pasture, taking 
the top spit about 6 ins. 
deep, laying it in ridges 
until the turf has become 
decomposed, and the 
action of the summer 
and winter seasons have 
had their sweetening and 
purifying effects. To 
this should be added a 
third of good clean leaf- 
mould, very old cow- 
manure, and sharp silver 
sand, with which may be 
mixed a small portion of 
peat, but not of a wet 
boggy nature. I much 
prefer to mix the_ com¬ 
post at the time it is 
required for use, break¬ 
ing and chopping it with 
the spade as the mixing 
goes on, never using the 
sieve, as the finer portion 
can always be used for 
small plants ; in the 
larger shifts the plants do infinitely better if the soil is 
used in a somewhat rough condition. 
If plants of good form and contour be the object, 
great attention must be paid to pinching back ex¬ 
uberant growth that dense bushy plants may be 
obtained without the aid of being supported by too 
many sticks, which are at all times a disfigurement, 
but in this respect much depends on the habit and the 
varieties grown. I have grown very many (seedlings 
included) that have been judiciously stopped from 1 ft. 
to 3 ft. high and upwards, with only a central support, 
and these have been perfect pyramidal bushes. 
Fuchsias grow well in a temperature ranging from 50’ 
to 75°, this latter degree aided entirely by sun heat, 
giving plenty of ventilation with a genial external 
atmosphere. Autumn struck cuttings can be kept 
Cypripedium (ENANTHUM superbum. 
NOTES ON THE FUCHSIA. 
On the introduction of Fuchsia fulgens hybridists 
became alive to the importance of devoting their 
attention to the raising of new and distinct varieties, 
having abundance of materials at their command, and 
soon were they rewarded for their labours and the 
whole family was enriched by new and distinct 
colours. The new varieties also showed a marked 
improvement, both in the form of the flower, as also in 
the habit of the plant. I was present at one of the 
meetings of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, when Mr. 
Dominy exhibited his fine seedling winter-flowering 
variety ; this was a great 
many years since. It 
was named “Dominiana” 
and was very much ad¬ 
mired by all present, and 
even now, if properly 
handled, this, as well as 
serratifolia and fulgens, 
make grand specimen 
plants in a large conser¬ 
vatory, much more noble 
and effective than many 
other plants for which 
they have been by many 
discarded. 
Fuchsia, Venus Vic- 
trix, sent out between 
forty and fifty years ago, 
was a decided change in 
variety, and was eagerly 
bought at a high price. 
Some say this came by a 
freak of nature, but I see 
no reason why it should 
not have been obtained 
in the ordinary and 
natural way. It must be 
borne in mind that ante¬ 
rior to the date of its in¬ 
troduction, we had species 
from Chili, Mexico, Peru, 
Port Famine, &c., and 
these had been brought 
into contact by hybridi¬ 
sation, and many varie¬ 
ties were raised of a dis¬ 
tinct habit and colour of 
their flowers. Very many 
of the kinds so raised I 
cultivated in my early 
days, and have watched 
with considerable interest 
the progress made in the 
production of so many 
beautiful varieties that 
we now possess through 
the combined labours of 
many who have longsince 
passed away. 
Perhaps many will 
coincide with me, when I 
state as my opinion, that 
the greatest achievement 
was that of the late Mr. 
Story, of Newton Abbot, 
the successful raiser of 
several with white corol¬ 
las, both double and 
single. I think there 
was a batch of six sent 
out by Messrs. E, G. 
Henderson & Son, of the “Wellington Nursery, St. John’s 
“Wood, for which I understood at the time they gave 
a hundred pounds, and if my memory serves me, 
the fortunate raiser only lived to witness the an¬ 
nouncement of the distribution of his great novelties 
that were then without rivals. Subsequent to this 
many have devoted much time and attention to the 
raising of new kinds, some of whom have been very suc¬ 
cessful, and we now have Fuchsias with almost every 
distinctive featae and character in colour and habit 
of growth. In treating upon the cultivation of the 
Fuchsia, it is not my intention to give instruction with 
regaid to their propagation, although the increasing, if 
desired, of this lovely and popular tribe, both by seed and 
cuttings is by no means difficult, where ordinary con¬ 
venience is at hand and thj requisite attention is given. 
Young plants can be readily obtained from any of 
the leading growers, some of whom devote considerable 
attention to their cultivation for market and general 
distribution, from these maybe obtained healthy young 
plants at all seasons, for, as a rule, it is their practice to 
keep a stock in hand to supply plants, if required, both 
for early and late-flowering. All the varieties in com¬ 
merce are fully described, so that there can be no 
difficulty in making a good selection, and should any 
respectable dealer recommend any particular variety of 
which’ you have no knowledge, you may rely upon his 
honest and experienced judgment. The plants so 
purchased should be dwarf and robust, the pots in 
which they are growing should be filled with fine 
healthy roots, and in a free-growing condition ready for 
shifting into pots one or two sizes larger than they 
have been growing in, using plenty of drainage. 
Fuchsias never do well if subject to a high temperature 
and a dry atmosphere ; they succeed best when grown 
in an intermediate house during the early season, and 
when they are in a young growing state, consequently 
a warm part of the greenhouse should be selected, and 
which should be kept rather close, admitting air ac¬ 
cording to the state of the weather, avoiding draughts 
or cold currents ; but plenty of light and air are 
essential to ensure a healthy and vigorous growth, and 
as the season advances the plants should be carefully 
shaded during the hottest part of the day. I like for 
