CHAPTER VII. THE FUCHSIA. "Thou graceful flower, on graceful stem, From tropic fields thou cam'st to cheer And grateful for our fostering care, Has learn'd the wintry blast to bear." Although Fuchsias, on their first introduction into England, seventythree or four years ago, were treated as stove plants; they scarcely come under the head of Window Gardening, as many of the species live in sheltered gardens throughout the year, both in England and in this country. In California, they bloom for twelve months in the year, and grow into large bushes, perfectly covered with brilliant flowers. Their light and graceful appearance renders them desirable in the smallest garden. Their gorgeous pendant flowers, with petals of the richest scarlet dye, shading down to the palest pink, or the purest white, with corollas of glowing purple, scarlet, pink or white, produce a most attractive whole, and entitle them to a chapter by themselves, for they are the chief among "bedding-out" plants. To their glorious beauty, Fuchsias add three other desirable requisites: their free growth, their general hardiness, and the ease with which they are propagated. In bedding them out, a moist, shady position is the most suitable; our noonday sun scorches the tender buds, and causes them to fall. Their native home is in Brazil, where Darwin saw large thickets of them, and they choose moist locations in the woods. In rich, loamy soil, well mixed with leaf mould and rotted cow manure, the growth of a young cutting is very rapid, and will make a large plant by the autumn. When it has commenced to grow, don't check it by neglect, but during the Summer months water twice a day with tepid water, and, if possible, give it liquid manure water, either from the barn-yard, or by dissolving one table-spoonful of guano in one gallon of warm water; water with this twice a week, and its growth will astonish you. Fuchsias are as gross feeders as the Pansy, and luxuriate in the richest soil; thus treated, some kinds will send out shoots from four to five feet in length in six or eight months. They show to great advantage when trained as standards; to do this, the side shoots of a young plant must be nipped off, and the stem trained up a straight stick. When the plant grows high enough for your purpose, let the side shoots branch out, and you can grow a fine tree. They can also be trained to walls, or planted in masses in beds. If the young plant does not branch out, pinch off the terminal shoot, and side branches will appear, and the most central shoot can be trained up for a leader. If plants are set near the cooling spray of a fountain, they thrive well, but must not be so near as to keep their roots constantly wet. Culture. Many gardeners prefer to have new plants every season, but if old ones are judiciously cared for, they will produce a finer effect, and bloom more profusely. Large plants can be kept in frost-proof, dry cellars during the winter, either in pots or in boxes; or they can be pulled up by the roots, the soil shaken from them, and packed in layers in sand which is thoroughly dry, first cutting off all the tender shoots. In March or April they can be brought to the light, and planted in good, rich soil, pruning not only the top, but the roots. In cutting the top back, have an eye to its shape, and prune accordingly. Some of the Fuchsias are of much taller growth than others. Speciosa will grow six to eight feet in height; Pride of England is a small bush compared to it; while Souvenir de Cheswick will readily train into a fine standard. Plants must be allowed to follow their natural habits in some respects. To Grow Cuttings. Fuchsias will strike root as rapidly as Geraniums. Take the cuttings either in February, March or April, from three to four inches long Plant in clear sand, keep "sopping wet," and in three weeks they will be well rooted. Pot in three-inch pots, in the richest of soil, with a little sand to keep it mellow; let them grow until the pot is well filled with roots, which will be in three or four weeks, then repot in six to eight inch pots, if designed to grow in them; but if raised to bed out, plant in five-inch pots, and when all fear of frost is passed, plant in the open borders. Be sure not to let the summer heat kill your plants. They will grow well under trees, if the branches are fifteen feet or more from the ground, so that the air can circulate freely. These plants are liable to lose their leaves and buds if the soil is not rich enough to their taste, and red spiders often infest them, ruining their growth. For the poverty of the soil, either repot entirely, or give a top dressing of manure; for the spiders, sprinkle daily, and they may be driven off-they do not love water; but if this remedy fails, dip the whole plant into water quite warm to the hand. A dusting of sulphur will kill them, but it often kills the leaves also. I was much troubled with spiders last season, on fine plants of Marksman and Carl Halt. I dusted them over with "Grafton Mineral Fertilizer," and destroyed every one. I scattered the same powder over the soil, digging in a teaspoonful to each pot (size eight inches), and in September the plants were in a blaze of glory, the admiration of every passer-by! The Double Flowering Fuchsias. By careful culture from seed, these brilliant varieties were produced, and are unsurpassed for beauty and elegance by any plant in the floral world. Studded all over with their bright wealth of jewels, they far outshine their single brethren. Elm City held front rank for some years, but Marksman far surpasses it now, and Warrior is said to eclipse all others. It has a scarlet tube and sepals, with a rich violet-purple corolla, and possesses a vigorous habit. So numerous are the varieties of these charming flowers, that one can hardly make a selection, when all are so desirable, but from the lists of English and American florists I cull the following, to add to those above mentioned: Select List of Double Fuchsias. Tower of London, scarlet sepals, violet-blue corolla. Surpasse V. de Puebla, scarlet sepals, double white corolla. Monstrosa, bright rose sepals, double white corolla. Norfolk Giant, crimson sepals, violet corolla. Nonpareil, two corollas, the stamens forming a second corolla of a purplish blue; very elegant. E. G. Henderson, scarlet sepals, rich violet corolla. Wilhelm Pfitzer, rosy-carmine sepals, corolla lavender-blue. Select List of Single Fuchsias. Charming, violet corolla, crimson sepals, immense clusters. Arabella, white sepals, corolla richest pink; earliest variety. Fairest of the Fair, violet-rose corolla, white tube and sepals. Land of Plenty, rich red sepals, violet-black corolla. Marginata, white sepals, pink corolla, shaded to bright rose color. Souvenir de Cheswick, rosy-crimson sepals, violet corolla. Striped Unique, purple corolla, striped with scarlet. Tagliona, white reflexed sepals, dark violet corolla. Wave of Life, violet-blue corolla, scarlet sepals, gold tinted foliage. Weeping Beauty, scarlet sepals, large blue corolla. The Golden Leaved Fuchsias. Of this variety there have been but two specimens, Cloth of Gold and Golden Fleece, until the importation of 1871, when several more were added to the list which have attracted much attention in England for their beautiful foliage and graceful habit. Crown of Jewels, leaves clear yellow, tipped with rich red crimson, ornamental at all seasons. Golden Mantle, golden yellow leaves, flowers coral red. Golden Treasure, very attractive, gold colored leaves tinted with bronze. Orange Boven, the smallest variety grown; golden leaves tipped with bronze. The Winter Flowering Fuchsias. These are few in number-only two varieties, which are sure to bloom from December to May. Speciosa is well known; it produces flowers two inches in length, tubes and sepals are a waxen peach-blossom color, with crimson corolla. Serratifolia is an equally valuable variety; the flowers are distinct from any other Fuchsia. The tube of the flower is crimson, the tips of the sepals shading to green, corolla light crimson, with white stamens. Both these plants are extensively cultivated, and, if well fed, will bloom profusely when flowers are a rarity. |