No subject is of greater interest to the soft-wooded plant growers than the history and cultivation of the Fuchsia. To the present race of young gardeners the giant specimens of a dozen or more years are all but unknown, and the varieties - most of them at any rate - that are now cultivated are not particularly well adapted for growing into specimens. Raisers of new varieties of Fuchsias have conferred great benefits upon a certain class of people, and a very large class it must be admitted; but upon the other hand, if we have gained in size of flower, as we undoubtedly have, we have lost something in habit for certain purposes. This is where variety comes in useful. For instance, many of the old free-growing kinds would cut a sorry figure by comparison with some of the new ones, if size of flower were the only consideration. But there are large conservatories to be filled where the finest variety in cultivation, of dwarf habit, would look a mere pigmy. For this reason, if for no other, it is desirable not to lose sight of the free-growing kinds, at all events until we are furnished with something of equally good habit producing better flowers. . Of late years the absence of large Fuchsias from such structures as we have indicated has been most striking to those who remember what the said structures used to be in former days.

Plants that may be grown from 6 to 9 feet high in a season are useful, more especially when they are old favorites and beautiful as well. Now is the time to propagate plants for growing into specimens next season. Struck in a gentle warmth, and potted off singly into small pots a week or two hence, they will be ready for starting into growth early in February, a long way in advance of spring-struck cuttings. They should be wintered on a shelf near the glass, and kept partially dry at their roots, but not to an extent that would cause the plants to shrivel or to lose their leaves. In the spring, when they commence to grow, give them a shift into a larger pot, and plunge them in a gentle bottom heat, and they will make rapid progress. It is a singular fact that when the days begin to get long, and the sun attains its full power, Fuchsias refuse to grow as they do in the early part of the year. Hence the importance of having rooted cuttings to begin with in the spring, instead of waiting until the old plants are started into growth and cuttings can be obtained from them.

A few of the good old sorts are Fairest of the Fair, Sir Colin Campbell, Roderick Dhu, Madame Cornellisen, Rose of Castile, and Guiding Star. - Gardener's Magazine.