Fuchsias Training And Management

We confess to have a special liking for the Fuchsias, and think no

assortment of house plants is complete without one or two varieties of

these beautiful flowers. They are easily propagated, either from

cuttings or by layers, and the amount of bloom one strong, healthy plant

is capable of producing under favorable circumstances, is truly

wonderful. Upon one plant of Fuchsia speciosa, started from a cutting of

a single eye in March, we counted at one time, in the December

following, one hundred and fifty perfect blossoms. The plant stood in an

eight-inch pot, and measured four feet in hight. Some kinds do better as

house plants than others, among the best are F. speciosa, F.

fulgens, and the Rose of Castile, and I would particularly recommend

these sorts as superior to all others for the window-garden. The right

kind of soil has everything to do with success in growing fine Fuchsias;

it should be of a light peaty quality, with one-third cow manure, and

thoroughly mixed together until well decayed. They also relish an

abundance of water; and if they have, while growing, an application of

liquid manure once or twice a week, it will be beneficial; never allow

the roots to become potbound, but when the roots begin to form a mat on

the outside of the ball of earth, it is time to shift the plant into a

pot of the next larger size, and so on as the plant requires it. This is

a very important point, and should not be overlooked if strong, healthy

plants are expected.



Fuchsias are especially desirable for training on trellises. They can be

trained over an upright trellis, and have a very pretty effect, but the

best form is that of an umbrella. Secure a strong, vigorous plant, and

allow one shoot to grow upright until about two feet high, then pinch

off the top of the shoot. It will branch out and form a head, each shoot

of which, when sufficiently long, may have a fine thread or hair-wire

attached to the tip, by which to draw it downward; fasten the other end

of the wire or thread to the stem of the plant, and all the shoots will

then be pendent. When each of these branches has attained a length of

eight inches, pinch off the tip, and the whole will form a dense head,

resembling an umbrella in shape, and the graceful flowers pendent from

each shoot will be handsome indeed. Remember to keep the stock clear of

side-shoots, in order to throw the growth into the head.



If properly taken care of, most Fuchsias will bloom the year round, but

some kinds can be especially recommended for winter blooming, among them

are F. speciosa, flesh-colored, with scarlet corolla; F.

serratifolia, orange-scarlet corolla, greenish sepals; Meteor, deep-red

corolla, light-pink sepals. The following are the finest in every

respect that the market affords: Mrs. Bennett, pink; Sir Cohn Campbell,

double blue; Rose of Castile, single violet; Elm City, double scarlet;

Carl Holt, crimson; Tower of London, double blue; Wave of Life, foliage

yellow, corolla violet; F. speciosa, single, flesh-colored, and F.

fulgens, long red corolla.