258 
THE FUCHSIA. 
made by means of canvas coverings to exclude powerful sun¬ 
light and heavy rains. It is necessary, while the plants are in 
this position, to preserve a moist atmosphere about them in dry 
weather, by watering not only the plants and the soil in the pots, 
but the ground on which they stand; here they will form another 
shorter growth, which is that most likely to contain the flower- 
buds, and when this is nearly completed much of the water 
hitherto given should be withheld, placing the plants more fully in 
the sun and air, and merely keeping the soil just sufficiently damp 
to prevent flagging. By the usual time for removing these plants 
to the greenhouse, the buds will be sufficiently large to be felt 
with the thumb and finger, and it is then only necessary to keep 
them regularly supplied with a moderate quantity of moisture, and 
protection from frost, to ensure the development of so many 
flowers as are then formed. It is entirely on the short second 
growth that the blooming depends, and the great object should 
be to have that matured as early in August as may be possible, 
that sufficient time may remain to form the embryo flowers. 
Hortulanus. 
THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE FUCHSIA. 
READ BEFORE THE CLAPHAM GARDENERS’ SOCIETY. 
According to promise, I intend this evening, to the best of my 
abilities, to tell you all I know respecting the history, description, 
and cultivation of the Fuchsia. I trust that all will endeavour to 
add any practical statements they may possess thereto, for in my 
opinion the real value of mutual instruction is to discuss the 
subject, and ask ourselves whether what we have heard entirely 
agrees with our individual practice, or if not, whether any remark 
made is worthy of a trial by those who may have hitherto been 
successful cultivators of the graceful Fuchsia. 
In the first place, I will say a few words respecting the intro¬ 
duction of the plant. It was brought from abroad , I believe 
Mexico, by a seaman, who presented it to his mother some time 
about the year 1/80 ; the plant was placed in the window, when 
