ON THE CULTIVATION OF FUCHSIAS. 
85 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF FUCHSIAS. 
As I am constantly deriving both pleasure and profitable 
information from the pages of your excellent work, I feel bound 
to offer in return the following remarks on the culture of that 
beautiful genus the Fuchsia, which, from their great popularity, 
I am induced to think may not be without some interest. 
There are some cultivators who, notwithstanding the immense 
advance that has lately been made in the culture of these 
charming objects, still manage to keep a-head of their com¬ 
petitors, continuing to produce specimens which, for luxuriance 
of growth and the brilliancy of their flowers, surprise every one: 
this I have found to depend on two conditions; first, the soil 
they are grown in, and secondly, the state of the atmosphere at 
the two periods of growing and blooming. I may as well here 
premise that, to grow Fuchsias to the perfection they are 
capable of attaining, it is essential to have a house devoted to 
them alone, — and I may ask, to what more deserving class of 
plants can an Amateur devote his greenhouse? — there is not a 
family that will yield the same continuance of splendour and 
delicate beauty with the same amount of trouble; it is well 
known they do not require more than half the attention of Pelar¬ 
goniums, yet they continue to produce their lovely blossoms for 
three or four times as long. The house to be recommended for 
them is a small, low, span-roofed one, capable of holding, say 
fifty specimens, having a front shelf near the glass for the small 
plants, and a centre stage for the larger ones ; it should be 
heated with an iron tank having a moveable cover, to allow the 
admission of steam at required times: these things are perhaps 
not absolutely necessary, but contribute most materially to the 
production of perfect specimens. The soil most conducive to 
the dark luxuriant foliage so much to be desired, and which is 
the great secret among the growers of this tribe, I have found 
to be — heath-mould, or what is commonly called peat: pure, 
unadulterated heath-mould, I can confidently affirm, is all that 
is necessary for the production of the finest specimens; this, 
chopped up roughly, and the plant allowed plenty of it, that is, 
a large shift each time, will insure a fine vigorous growth. 
Keeping these plants in heavy soil and small pots causes the 
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