FUCHSIA CORYMBIFLORA. 
161 
coal undergoes decomposition; for after being used five to six 
years it becomes a coaly earth, and if this is the case, it must yield 
carbon, or carbonic oxide, abundantly to the plants growing in it, 
and thus afford the principal substance necessary for the nutrition 
of vegetables. In what other manner, indeed, could we explain 
the deep green colour and great luxuriance of the leaves and every 
part of the plants, which can be obtained in no other kind of soil, 
according to the opinion of men well qualified to judge ? It exer¬ 
cises, likewise, a favourable influence, by decomposing and absorb¬ 
ing the matters excreted by the roots, so as to keep the soil free 
from the putrifying substances which are often the cause of the 
death of the spongiolae. Its porosity, as well as the power which 
it possesses of absorbing water with rapidity, and after the satura¬ 
tion of allowing all other water to sink through it, are causes also 
of its favourable effects. These experiments show what a close 
affinity the component parts of charcoal have to all plants, for every 
experiment was crowned with success, although plants belonging 
to a great many different families were subjected to trial. 
FUCHSIA CORYMBIFLORA. 
BY MR. J. STANDISH, NURSERYMAN OF BAGSHOT. 
(WITH an engraving.) 
This noble plant was raised by myself from seeds received 
from Cusco, in Peru. In the “ Flora Peruviana,” the species is 
spoken of as acquiring the height of a man, with a stem little 
inclined to branch. It was found by Ruiz and Pavon, in the 
woods of Chinchao and Muna, to the north-east of Lima, in shady 
situations. It is in this part of the world that the tribe of 
Fuchsias attain their greatest beauty, and develop those colours 
and forms which have gained for it among the Peruvians the 
name of Beauty Bush. Besides the subject of the present notice, 
several others of even finer appearance are mentioned by the authors 
of the Flora Peruviana, and are among the greatest desiderata 
of horticulture. F. serratifolia is a bush, with pink flowers an 
inch and a half long, growing in the manner of F. macrostemma , 
VOL. n. NO. VII. Y 
