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AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. | 19 
FOOTSTALK. The stalk of a leaf. 
FORCING. This is one of the most important 
operations in the whole routine of gardening, and one 
that requires the greatest care in practice for obtaining 
successful results. It has to be mainly conducted 
throughout the winter and early spring, when outside 
temperatures are extremely variable, and” when the 
amount of sunshine and consequent light obtained is, 
at best, but very limited. Forced flowers, fruits, and 
‘vegetables, are annually in demand, and all have to be 
procured under conditions that are generally unnatural 
to the plants at the time, in consequence of an insuf- 
ficient season of rest being allowed them. Fruit-trees 
carefully forced in successive seasons, and properly 
ripened after the fruit is gathered, finish their growth, 
and begin a season of rest, earlier than those allowed 
to grow more in accordance with their natural habit. 
These start the more readily, in consequence, when 
artificial heat is applied. Many flowering plants are 
so far injured by early Forcing, as to be unavailable 
for the purpose the following year; but they may 
generally be recruited in health, in the course of two 
seasons, by planting out, and, in the meantime, using 
` others that have been prepared in a similar way. The 
preparation of plants for Forcing, or selection of those 
only which are thoroughly ripened, is always one of the 
most important points. A fruit-tree, or flowering plant, 
thus treated will have its embryo flowers formed inside 
the bud-scales, and ready for expanding when the ne- 
cessary heat and moisture are given. In the early stages 
of Forcing operations, heat should be applied as gradually 
as possible, beginning with a little warmer, closer atmo- 
sphere than that allowed during the resting period. A 
temperature not exceeding 50deg. to 55deg. by artificial 
heat will suit a large number of plants to start with, 
but these figures must not be taken as applying to all 
alike—they would be too high. Most plants subjected to 
Forcing will bear more heat after the buds swell and 
commence growing, than they will previously. The value 
of sunshine and light cannot be over-estimated; conse- 
quently, both should be admitted to the fullest extent in 
winter, when the sun will seldom be strong enough to 
injure the tenderest foliage. It is not advisable to apply 
heat, when the weather is dull, to maintain a tempera- 
ture equal to that supplied naturally on brighter days, 
as the result would be an encouragement of weak, atten- 
uated growths, which, with a return of sun, or an 
admission of air, would immediately droop. Very early 
Forcing renders many plants and vegetables useless after- 
wards, and this necessitates an annual supply being 
raised for the purpose. Almost any positions in heated 
structures may be utilised for such, as, once the crop 
is secured, in the case of either flowers or vegetables, 
the roots may be destroyed, and their place taken by 
others. Vines, and fruit or other permanent trees, are 
of much more consequence; hence, the greatest care is ` 
necessary, in Forcing, not only to conduct it so as to 
gain a crop the following season, but also to avoid doing 
anything that may prove injurious to the well-being of 
the trees afterwards. A ridge of fermenting material, 
composed of fresh stable litter and plenty of leaves, is 
frequently used, with good results, for starting early Vines 
or Peach-trees. It requires to be often turned and re- 
newed, in order to keep the requisite temperature; which, 
supplied in this way, contains much more moisture than 
would be procurable with the aid of fire heat. The 
hot-water pipes must, however, be available for use as 
well at any time required. 
FORCING HOUSE. The quantities of cut flowers 
and plants required in many gardens, render it a necessity 
to either build or set apart a special structure for forcing 
purposes, with provision for those subjects needing bottom 
heat, and a bed or staging for others that are better with- 
out. A Forcing House is also, sometimes, specially reserved 
Forcing House—continued. 
for such plants as Strawberries, where they are placed in 
a high temperature, after flowering is over, for the purpose 
of swelling and maturing the fruit. A  span-roofed 
building is most suitable for accommodating plants of 
various heights, and is, at the same time, one that admits 
most light. If provided with a glass partition, and sepa- 
rate valves in the heating arrangements, an advantage is 
gained of keeping one part a little cooler than the other, 
and introducing plants into this when first starting them. 
The Forcing House should be in a sheltered position in the 
garden, but not so as to be shaded in winter; and it should 
have plenty of heat at command. A span-roofed structure 
admits of a centre stage with path round, and side beds 
under which pipes could be placed for bottom heat; or, 
in the case of a small one, the path may be through the 
centre, and beds arranged on either side. All plants may 
be stood near the light, in a house of this description, by 
raising or lowering them according to height, but this 
condition could not be procured so readily in one of 
another shape. Stronger and more equable bottom heat 
is obtained when the pipes pass through a shallow water 
tank underneath the plunging material. A span-roofed 
house, about 30ft. long, 16ft. wide, and 9ft. high, would 
allow considerable space for plants of various sizes, and 
would be most desirable for other purposes, when not 
required for forcing. A minimum temperature of from 
50deg. to 55deg. is preferable to a higher one for starting 
most flowering plants not requiring bottom heat. This 
may be raised 10deg. after growth commences. Much 
must depend, in forcing, on the condition of the weather 
outside. Light syringings, with water as warm as the 
house, may be given on bright days, and all possible sun 
heat should be retained in the winter and early spring 
months, when forcing operations are of the greatest im- 
portance. The admission of air by the ventilators must be 
conducted with great care, when it becomes necessary to 
open them, on account of the tender foliage or flowers. A 
change of air takes place continually between the laps of 
the glass, particularly when the outside temperature is _ a. 
much lower than that inside. Fire heat should be stoppé 
in the day-time, so soon as the sunshine is strong enough 
to give sufficient warmth without it. 
FORFICULA AURICULARIA. Se Earwigs. 
FORGET-ME-NOT. See Myosotis palustris. 
FORK. This is one of the most useful of garden im- 
plements, made in various sizes and shapes to specially 
suit the work for which any particular one is intended. 
Those with two prongs are best for light litter, and for 
mixing manure, &c. The four, and sometimes five-pronged 
Forks are those mostly used, being frequently more ser- 
viceable for digging or levelling down soil than the spade, 
It is an indispensable tool for removing earth from the 
roots of trees or shrubs when transplanting, as, if care- 
fully worked from the stem outwards, the soil is loosened, 
Fig. 22. FLAT-TINED DIGGING FORK. 
and the roots uninjured in the process. The Fork is not 
in general use for digging, as it does not so thoroughly 
remove the earth at the bottom as the spade; but in 
many cases where the latter cannot, for various reasons, be 
roperly worked, the former will be found a certain sub- 
stitute. A good form for ordinary kitchen garden work, 
and for lifting crops, such as Potatoes, &c., is that made 
with four flattened prongs (see Fig. 22). The quality of 
the steel, with the proper mode of manufacturing the 
