THE FUCHSIA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2168, 5 February 1881, Page 3

THE FUCHSIA.

From a recent paper on the culture of this popular plant by a writer in the " Gardeners' Chronicle," we condense the more practical portions :• Of the methods of training alluded to in the paper, undoubtedly the most favoured for show purposes is the pyramidal, as this most closely follows the natural habit of the fuohsia; still grand plants have been grown on the bush system, and if good prises were offered no dcubt fine specimen standard kinds could be produced, as I have senn them so grown a generation since.. The best kinds to make standard heads, those of a close growing drooping habit, make growth bo slowly that stout stems are not easily obtained ; some of the tall erect-growing kinds however, will soon run up stems six feet in height, and doubtless heads of otber kinds might soon be worked on these, either by budding or inarching. It is in the building up of a pyramidal specimen that the chief labour of the exhibitor lies. Once the frame is constructed, the furnishing in after seasons beoomes a matter of comparative ease. As an old exhibitor of fuchsias, I have had my own way of doing this, and in its way it proved for my purpose very successful; but after all I was a mere plagiarist, having got my first idea of the method from the garden at Paultons, in the New Fjrcafc, when looking over the plaoe a long time since, and when Mr G. Harnett was gardener there. In the frame ground, in rough wooden frames that had been used to harden off bedding plants, and were now filled up with leaf refuse, were plunged at the time of my visit, in June, a number of young pyramidal fuchsias, growing in nine-inoh pots. These plants were the product of cuttings struck the previous autumn, housed in the cutting pots, potted up into sixties early in March, and grown on in a gentle heat and with plenty of light and air. The method of training was thus : One neat upright stake, for the leader of the plant, about 5 feet in height—this was the only support needed; then next the regular stopping of every shoot, whether leader or lateral, as soon as flower-buds were shown ; the leading on of the nest growth and similar treatment; and so continued until the cultivator found that the plant had accomplished all that was possible in that direotion for that season ; then the plants were allowed to make their fullest growth and flower, getting ' the assistance of [manure water during the iautamn. But another important element in the training was full exposure to the sun, the pots being of course protected by plunging. This full exposure produced short, robust growth and well-riponed wood, the plants being turned half round once a fortnight that the growth and exposure might be equally distributed. In this way I have grown the most perfeet pyramids possible during the summer, and made them prize specimens for autumn shows. The winter treatment is simply to keep the plants out of the reach of frost, and the next season, when shown in 12ineh pots, and 8 feet high and S feet throngb, they are simply unbeatable at summer show? To keep up a good stock of specimens, a few fresh ones should be grown on yearly. Sort

has something to do with cultural success j free but short-jointed grower!, flowering profusely, are the best, and big-flowered kinds that bloom thinly should rather be avoided. The young cultivator may get good advice as to sorts from successful growers of the best kinds, but experience will prove the most useful mentor in the long run. A_ few good varieties for the purpose are, Sovenir de Ohiswick, Madame Oornellisen, Delight, and Venus de Medici.