THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
December 1, 190% 
. 
Fuchsia Phenomenal. 
Deseripbisn 
of Flewepss 
THE FUCHSIA. 
The Fuchsia is such a_ well-known 
florist’s flower as scarcely to need des- 
cription, 
multiples, are customary, the Fuchsia 
favours the number four; it has 4 sepals 
4 petals 8 stamens, and a four-celled 
berry. As the flower is pendant and the 
corolla partly hidden from above it has 
found it advantageous to grow a coloured 
calyx in order to attract insects for 
pollination, The Fuchsia was discovered 
200 years ago by a Monk, Father Plumier 
who named it after a botanist, Fuchs, 
Whilst in the two great divi- — 
‘sions of plants, threes or fives, or their 
born another 200 years earlier. The 
native habit is Central and Southern 
America, there are about 50 species, of 
which the principal in cultivation are 
_ Globosa, Corymbiflora, Fulgens, (with 
flowers and tuberous roots), Procumbens, 
and Gracilis. The natural order to 
which the Fuchsia belongs is Onagraceae, 
so called because in some species tho 
jeaves are like the ears of the Onager or 
Wild Ass? Other species found in our 
gardens are Caura, Godrtia, Clarkia, and 
the Evening Primrose. The berries of 
the Fuchsia are edible, and so are the 
roots of the Evenlng Primrose, and the 
seeds of the Water Chestnut, of the same 
order. © 
The Fuchsia readily lends itself to- 
crossing. Supposing a fine shaped flower 
with tolerable pure white tube, but. 
deficient in a good corolla of the right 
form and colour, then take pollen of 4_ 
variety that has a gocd corolla, and apply 
it to the stigma of the one with a good 
tube and sepals, and save the seed. A. 
glance down a florist’s catalogue will 
show the numerous varieties of colour 
obtained; the sepals being white, crimson,. 
scarlet, violet, &c.,and the petals white,. 
pink, purple, blue, Ge. in various com: 
binations. These varieties are obtained 
by crossing as indicated and growing the. 
plants from seed, 
Some varieties, too, are grown for the- 
beauty of their leaves, such as Sunray 
and Meteor, The propagation is easy 
either from seeds, or from cuttings about 
one inch long of young shoots taken off 
close to the old wood. Even in the hills. 
where frost is not unusual, the plants 
will survive the winter if not allowed to- 
get sudden. 
It can be successfully and easily grown 
e.ther in the open beds, the bush house,. 
or under glass. The plant is mostly 
favoured for pot culture, because of the- 
gracefulness and beauty of the blooms 
and the elegance of its form as a plané. 
when carefully shaped during its younger 
stages of growth. 
Lhe most suitable compost is one part 
sharp sand, one part well decayed cow- 
manure, and two parts rich fibrous loam.. 
Although the plant is a rich feeder, only 
occasional supplies of liquid manure 
should be given, and then great care must 
be taken not to put it on too strong. 
To make the young plants bushy the 
shoots should be stopped off when the 
plant has grown about 6 or 8 inches, 
In pot cultnre the plants require to be 
replaced with young ones about every 
third year. 
In the open they are very vigorous 
growers when properly tended, and their 
special delizht is an eastern uspect, well 
sheltered from the hot winds. Here they 
should be well mulched with rotted 
manure, and growers will find them 
thirsty plants during dry weather. 
Many growers of Fuchsias not for show 
purposes will keep the same plants i2 
