It has frequently been a matter of surprise to me that the lovely, elegant, long-blooming Fuchsia, has not been more planted in masses in the bedding-out gardens. I am sure it has everything to recommend it. In the first place, it is easily kept through the winter; all that it requires is to be kept moderately dry and free from frost It may be kept alive in a dry room; in a dark cellar; under the stage of the greenhouse; in cold pits or frames, without any covering; or even will keep alive if buried under a heap of coal-ashes. It is easily propagated; every cutting will grow if taken off very young, planted in sand, and placed in gentle heat, under a hand-glass. Then, again, it may be planted out as early as May, and will flower till frost comes. It grows dense, and flowers most profusely, producing its coral-like blossoms most constantly. Surely, all these good qualities ought to induce flower-gardeners to patronize and cultivate this charming plant more than they do. The fact, however, is, that varieties are planted out that are utterly unfit for that purpose. Because a variety, grown in a pot in the greenhouse, produces there extraordinary flowers, it is thought fit for the flower-bed. It is then planted out and fails, flowering only for a short time.

Now, to plant finch large-flowering varieties not only leads to disappointment, but throws a slur upon the Fuchsia that it does not deserve. These ideas frequently passed through my mind when customers came in for bedding-plants, and almost invariably passed by the Fuchsias, because, they said, they did not flower enough. What a mistaken idea! Choose the right varieties for bedding, and no plant - no, none whatever - flowers more freely.

I have seen Fuchsias in the open air, with stems as thick as my wrist, and higher than any man I ever saw, as full of flowers as ever you saw an Oak-tree full of leaves;and I did not travel into their native country, the mountains of Chili, to meet with such splendid specimens. No; I only crossed the sea from Fleetwood, in Lancashire, to Belfast, in Ireland. There, in a garden at Hollywood, I saw Fuchsia coccinea, F. cornea, F. fulgent, and F. macrostemon, of immense size, growing in the open air constantly. It is true that locality is near the sea, and, consequently, the frosts are neither severe nor lasting; but that says nothing; such plants could be kept alive in any cultivated part of Great Britain with such protection as I have mentioned above.

In the warmer parts of Britain, the Fuchsia will live out constantly, though, in severe winters, it will generally be cut down to the ground; therefore I would recommend them always to be taken up and stowed away, in preference to leaving them in the ground; and for these reasons - they are not sure to survive a very hard frost. If they do, they form such rank bushes that they are far from being handsome, and, beside that, they do not all grow alike. Whereas, if they are taken up and stowed away, the ground or beds may be well trenched; the soil renewed, if necessary, and the plants put out in such positions, according to their strength, that the tallest and strongest will be in the centre of the bed, and the weakest at the sides, so that they will form a kind of amphitheatre of flowers when in bloom, and every plant will be seen. So grown, no plants require less care. They grow thick enough to choke up all weeds. The foliage shades the ground, so that the sun has no power to dry up or parch the land, and they require no water, and are less subject to be preyed upon by insects than any plant I know.

With these hints and praises, which, I trust, will induce many to try Fuchsias on a larger scale than they have done, I now proceed to give my list of such kinds as I know will answer for bedding purposes.

Fuchsias #1

Attend to repotting in time, that a speedy growth may receive no check, but do not give them very large pots, unless your object is a large plant and no flowers. They only bloom well when growth is completely checked by the pots being filled with roots; an eight inch pot will grow a specimen large enough for ordinary decorative purposes.

Achemenes require rough, turfy soil, and one-fourth of the pot filled with drainage. Strong growing sorts like pedunculata, grandiflora, hirsuts, etc, may be placed singly, or two or three in a pot; by constantly pinching out the young points, they may be grown very large, even from single roots, but they increase so rapidly by the roots, that plants are always abundant. Longiflora, coccinea, rosea patens, etc, may be planted thickly; they will thus soon form a large mass, and a succession of flowering plants may be had by keeping a few well pinched down. Syringe them frequently, and do not keep the soil too wet. Gesneras and gloxinias require similar treatment. The tuberous roots of the latter are apt to decay if the soil is kept wet before the fibry roots extend.

The house will now be much crowded. Plants intended for the flower garden may be set out of doors; so may, also, a few of the earliest flowered camellias, acacias, azaleas, together with pittosporums, myrtles, oranges, etc, that are intended for out-door decorations. Be guided, however, by the condition of their growth. They will certainly be checked, unless the young shoots have completed their growth. Choose a spot where they will be shaded from morning sun; a few degrees of frost will then do no harm.

During the month of February last, I was shown into a small conservatory, containing more bloom than I ever saw in similar space. The vigor and health of the plants attracted notice. I was informed, that a few days previous to my visit, through an accident, the thermometer got down to 22°, thus subjecting the plants to 10° of frost; shading was immediately resorted to, and the temperature allowed to rise gradually. Not a leaf or flower was harmed. Cinnerarias, geraniums, Kennedias, epacris, euphorbias, gesneras, and even the cypripediums, insigne, and venusta, were all unhurt. This much for simply shading after frost.

Chinese primrose, for seeding, may now be allowed to flower; leave only one flower-stem on a plant; set them near the glass, where they will get air when the house is opened.

Climbing plants and rustic baskets, hanging about a greenhouse, create a pleasing variety. Baskets for this purpose are readily made with small branches of trees, or pieces of oak and hickory bark. Any plant that forms slender branches, or partakes of a spreading character, is suitable. Climbing plants are not at all adapted for this purpose. Nemophilas, lobelia erinus, torenias, eschynanths, hoya bella,mahernias,mimulas, petunias, and lophospernums, if well pinched back when growing, lantana sellowii,and lycopodium denticulatum, are well suited for this method of culture.

Fuchsias #1

Empress Eugenie; wide, reflexed sepals, of a rosy crimson, with a violet shading; corolla, fine white; graceful habit, and beautiful foliage.

Lady of the Lake; fine, deep crimson tube and sepals, with blush white corolla.

Duke of Wellington; crimson sepals, and lilac stained corolla.

Duchess of Lancaster; white tube and sepals; lovely violet corolla; very large and fine.

Sir John Falstaff, Vesta, etc. etc.

The Fuchsia #2

Of all our summer blooming greenhouse plants, the Fuchsia, with its graceful waxy flowers, deserves especial notice, on account of its easy culture and its beautiful habit and profuse flowering qualities, its varied tints and color, and its almost endless variety; it is, moreover, a great favorite with the ladies. For these reasons I have been prompted to offer a few remarks upon its propagation and culture.

Fuchsias #3

Give Fuchsias larger pots when required, the early plants will be commencing to flower; these, like Geraniums, should be in flower as early as possible, if required for flowering in-door, as the flowers and also the foliage drop quickly in very hot weather.