Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/246



HIS is one of the most beautiful of flowers, and perhaps of all the most interesting to grow. In a large family of girls, where each chooses some special flower to cultivate, the fuchsia should be a favorite, for a whole stand can be filled with the different varieties and can be made one of the most beautiful exhibitions in nature. They are easily propagated from cuttings, and are also raised from seed. I believe about August is the best time to strike the cuttings, and in choosing, select those that have five joints, cut the leaves off at the two lowest, and make a clean cut with a very sharp knife just below the last joint. Fill up your pots, putting some charcoal at the bottom (see how to strike cuttings); a light rich sandy soil is the best; put in your cuttings, the two lowest joints below the soil, and then give a thorough watering. Keep in a warm shady spot till rooted, putting out in the dew at night. Another mode of striking, and which is very successful with fuschsias, camelias, roses, and many other slips of that kind, is in a wide-mouthed bottle. Half fill a medicine bottle with water, and suspend your slip in it, just touching, but not in, the water. In a few days or weeks—the time depending upon the nature of the plant—tiny thread-like roots will be thrown down to the water; let these grow for a time, and then drop a little bit of earth into the water. In some instances I have seen the root attract the earth till it formed quite a little ball around it. Gradually as the slip strengthens add more earth, always being careful not to alter the position of the slip. After a time it will sprout at the top. Keep on adding the earth till the water is absorbed, and the bottle is a mass of roots, then you can break it, and plant out your slip. The striking in bottles is very interesting, a constant amusement to children