It has been stated already that the varieties figured are all of Mr. Lye's
own raising, which facts attests to the value of his seedlings, many of
which he has produced. Four of these are dark varieties, viz., Bountiful,
Charming, Elegance, and the Hon. Mrs. Hay--the latter one of the oldest,
but one of the freest, and scarcely without an equal for its great freedom
of bloom. The remaining five are light varieties, viz., Lye's Favorite,
Harriet Lye, Star of Wilts, Pink Perfection, and Beauty of the West.

[Illustration: MR. LYE'S FUSCHIAS.]

The specimens figured average from two to five years of age. It is really
marvelous what Mr. Lye can do with a fuchsia in two years; and lest it
might be supposed that he has plenty of glass accommodation, and can keep
his plants under glass continuously, it is due to him it should be stated
that he is very deficient in house accommodation, having but two small
houses, in one of which (an old house) he winters his plants and brings
them on until he can place them with safety in the open air in early
summer. His method of treating the specimens as set forth in his own words
may prove helpful to some of our readers: "After the plants have done
flowering, say about the third week in October, I cut them back into the
shape best fitted to form symmetrical specimens, and keep them dry for a
week or ten days, to check the bleeding of sap which follows; after that I
give a little water just to start them into growth, so as to make shoots
about three-quarters of an inch in length, in order to keep the old wood
active and living. I keep them in a cold house, and give but very little
water until the first or second week in February, when I shake the old
soil from the roots, and re-pot them into a fresh compost made up of three
parts good loam, one part well decomposed manure, and one part leaf-mould
and peat, with a good bit of silver or sea sand to keep it open. In order