have no more elegant plants in our greenhouses than the species and varieties of the fuchsia.

This is due not alone to the beauty of the flower, but to its easy culture, the freedom with which it can be grown, and its floriferous properties. A large fuchsia will probably, in a single summer, give more flowers than any one plant occupying the same space. But not only is the plant adapted for the greenhouse; it is one of the best we have for parlor-culture: and, with a little care, most varieties may be had in bloom at any season except midwinter; and there are even winter-blooming species. For the summer decoration of piazzas it is very useful, requiring only sufficient water to give a profusion of bloom all summer. Supposing it to be early spring, and our stock to be a few young fuchsias just well rooted (such as can be obtained from any florist for from three to five dollars a dozen), let us go with our plants through the season.

They will be in thumb-pots, about three to five inches high, and with from six to eight leaves. Let us remember in the first place that the fuchsia never looks better than when grown as a single stalk, with the axillary branches drooping regularly and gracefully on every side. As soon as the roots touch the sides of the thumb-pots, it is time to repot the plants: for this, use pots from one to two sizes larger (remembering that nothing is ever gained by overpotting), and a compost of rich loam, old well-rotted manure, and a slight admixture of silver sand (house sand, if washed to take out the salt, will do).

Carefully take the young plant from the pot, remove any sour surfacesoil, and, being careful not to break the ball, place it in the centre of the new pot; press the earth firmly around, give a gentle watering, and the work

is done.

Tie the plants carefully to slender stakes, and set them in a sunny window. We particularly describe parlor-culture; but the greenhouse treatment is in all important respects identically the same. Turn the plants every day to prevent their growing towards the light, or an undue development of branches on one side. Water freely; but never allow water to stand round the roots, to prevent which the pots should always be well drained. After the plants once begin to grow, they should never be allowed to flag for want of water.

In a fortnight, if the day temperature of the room has been about seventy-two degrees, the plants will need a second shift into larger pots; and this repotting should be continued as fast as the roots touch the sides of the pots, until they are in ten or twelve inch pots, which are large enough to bloom them in the house in the greenhouse, they may be still potted on if desirable. By the first of June, the plants will be about two feet high, with symmetrical side-branches, and may now be allowed to set bloom: previous to this, any buds should have been nipped out as soon as they appeared. The plants will soon be a mass of bloom, and will continue so all summer. As soon as bloom is over, set the pots out of doors to ripen the wood; and, on the approach of frost, store them in a cool frost-proof cellar. They will need little if any water till the season for repotting.

When that time arrives, which may be from January to April, according to the time when bloom is wanted, — the plants should be taken from the pots, the old soil shaken out, the roots pruned, and the tops trimmed so as to make the plant pyramidal. Place them in gentle heat, water them, and they will soon send out leaves. The pruning should be done by stopping. the leading shoots and nipping the laterals, that all may break and grow regularly. The lower branches often refuse to break unless the leader is severely headed in. When the plant is thus growing symmetrically, proceed in culture as in the previous year; only the plants will require larger pots in proportion to their size. Fuchsias are propagated by cuttings for the increase of old varieties, by seed for the production of new.

Cuttings should be the young shoots taken from old plants in early spring they should be about an inch long, and be rooted in sandy loam or silver sand, with a slight bottom-heat under a bell-glass. In parlor-culture, they may be struck under a tumbler. When well rooted, pot on as before directed.

Many species produce berries very freely. When the fruit is ripe, the seed should be washed out and dried.

In early spring, sow it in shallow pans in sandy loam, and pot on the young plants as cuttings.

As bedding-plants, fuchsias are too apt to run to foliage and give little flower, especially if young plants are used. Old standards, however, sometimes bloom finely, and need only to be planted out in common soil.

The only insects attacking the fuchsia are red spider, green fly, and mealy-bug: the former is kept under by syringing, the fly by smoking, and the bug by washing.

The varieties with a double corolla are very showy, but lack the grace and simplicity of the single.

The white-corollaed varieties were first raised about 1855: they are very showy, and present elegant contrasts of color, but are generally of weak habit. The following species are well worth growing: corymbiflora, gracilis, splendens, serratifolia, and spectabilis; the two latter of which are winter

bloomers.

F. globosa and its varieties are very fine for parlor-culture. F. speciosa is a good winter-blooming variety.

Each year gives us so many new varieties, that to give a list of the best is almost an impossibility. The following, however, are fine kinds, which will not disappoint the grower : —

Venus de Medici. -White sepals, purple corolla ; a fine symmetrical grower. Puritani. Crimson sepals, white corolla.

Victor Emanuel. - Scarlet corolla, blue sepals.

Rose of Castile. - Violet corolla, white sepals.

Syringiflora. Small purplish-crimson flowers, in a large erect truss.

Sir Harry.- Crimson.

Prince Imperial. - Dark crimson-purple.

Lucrezia Borgia. - Sepals crimson, corolla violet-purple.

Fantastic. - Double corolla, crimson and purple.

Souvenir de Chiswick. - Crimson and purple.

Cloth-of-Gold and Acubafolia have fine variegated foliage.

Our illustration gives a good idea of the perfection to which the produc

tion of new varieties has been carried.

GLEN RIDGE, February, 1868.

E. S. R., Jun.

WHAT PEARS SHALL I PLANT?

THIS question has been asked so often, that we are led to answer it for the benefit of that numerous class of our readers who have not the time or opportunity to test all the varieties in the nursery-man's catalogue, and wish to plant only those that are known to be good. It will be our endeavor to give a list sufficiently large to cover all the time from early to late, so that, from twenty or more trees, one may have the luxury of pears within his reach from July until the next April, and, with the aid of a fruithouse, possibly the year round, if it should be deemed desirable. We give a brief description of each variety that we recommend; for it often happens that though a pear may be very good, yet it might not suit some, and would not be planted by them if they knew the exact flavor of the fruit. It is more than possible that some of our readers may object to some variety we may name in this article, because it may not have succeeded so well in their particular locality as some other pear of the same season which has been tested by them. No list can be given that will be likely to prove the best all over the country from East to West, any more than a list of grapes could be named which would be perfectly well adapted to every State in the Union.

The list we give is one for home-use mostly, though it includes some of the most popular market-varieties. To those who say that the list should be extended to fifty or more varieties, so that the grower may obtain as wide a range of flavors as possible, we make answer, that a novice is as well off with twenty of the best for home-use, or five or six for market-purposes, as he would be with more. The pomologist who wishes to try all, that he may become fully acquainted with their merits, will not be content with one or two hundred sorts, but will possibly number his varieties by thousands. We give a list for standard trees only.

The MADELEINE is one of the very earliest pears, ripening the latter part of July. It is of second-rate quality, but desirable on account of its season; and, for this reason, deserves a place in every collection. The tree is a very vigorous, erect grower, though not very symmetrical in shape. The fruit is rather below medium size, obovate, with a long, slender, curved

It is pale lemon-yellow, with a slight blush on the exposed side, with russet about the stem; smooth skin; melting, juicy, sweet, with a slight perfume. One tree in a garden would be enough for home-use. We find that the children watch eagerly for the ripening of this variety, the earliest we have among a hundred sorts. Good bearer.

DOYENNÉ D'ÉTÉ is an early variety, ripening a little later than the Madeleine. The fruit is small, with a smooth skin; color yellow, with brightred cheek; short stalk; melting and juicy, sweet, and excellent flavor. A nice little pear, admired by all. One tree of this would be enough; for it cannot be regarded as a good market-fruit. Good bearer.

ROSTIEZER.This is one of the very best of the early pears.

In flavor, it somewhat resembles the Seckel; so that it is called by some the summer Seckel. In size it is small; color unattractive, being a dull-green, with a bronze-like reddish cheek; the stem is long and slender; flesh very sweet, rather coarse, melting, with a very pleasant flavor; good bearer; fruit in clusters. Time of ripening, middle to last of August. Tree naturally a strong but awkward grower, and requires heading-in and careful management to make a good-shaped tree. Well worthy of a place in every orchard or garden.

The BUERRÉ GIFFARD is a favorite pear with many; though, like many of the early pears, it soon decays after being picked. The fruit is rather above medium size, pyriform, resembling the Jargonelle; color greenish-yellow, with a bright-red cheek; melting, juicy, with an excellent vinous flavor. Time, middle of August. This is one of the very good early pears, and deserves a place among good pears.

BRANDYWINE. This is an American variety, and one of the very best of its season. The fruit is from medium to large, with considerable variation in form, though generally obtuse-pyriform; the skin is of a dull greenish-yellow, with considerable russet, and a reddish cheek; sweet, melting, aromatic flavor, much admired by all who like a sweet pear. Ripe about the first of September. The tree is a vigorous, upright grower, and a good bearer. Good for home-use or market.

CLAPP'S FAVORITE is another American variety, which has been introduced within a few years. It has recently been figured and described in this Journal; and we will not take space to repeat the description, but refer