20 THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Fork— continued. 
implement, is of much more importance when purchasing 
than the difference in price would suggest; consequently, 
those from the best makers should be obtained. Some 
are easily bent when under pressure: others just as easily 
snap. A good Fork should be made of steel, so combined 
in the manufacture as to wear evenly, and in such a 
way that the prongs will neither snap nor bend when 
in ordinary use. Forks for loading leaves are specially 
-made with four or five long tines, and are very 
useful in winter where large quantities have to be col- 
lected and taken away. Hand Forks are useful for 
plunging, planting out, &c.; they are made with three 
short flattened prongs, and a handle of the same size, 
like that of a trowel. 
FORMICIDÆ. See Ants. 
FORNICATE. Arched. 
FORRESTIA (commemorative of Peter Forrest, a 
botanist of the seventeenth century). Orp. Comme- 
linaceew. A genus of seven species of pretty and singular 
stove perennials, of which one is from tropical Africa, 
and the rest natives of India and the Malayan Archi- 
pelago. For culture, see Commelina. 
F. Hookeri (Hooker's). /l. purplish, capitate, sessile, bracteate, 
in dense clusters from the lower sheaths, and often from the 
naked stems atter the leaves have fallen; sepals boat-shaped ; 
petals much paler, almost white, ovate, acute. l. sub-succulent, 
bovate-l late, finely cordate-acuminate, more or less hairy, 
deep purple beneath, at length glabrous above, and there uni- 
formly green, striately veined ; base tapering downwards, often 
very hairy, and terminating in a large, striated, often very 
villous, sheathing base. Stem herbaceous, lft. to 3ft. long, simple 
below, creeping and radicant, and leafless. h. 3ft. Malay Archi- 
pelago, 1864. (B. M. 5425, under name of F. hispida.) 
FORSYTHIA (named in honour of William Forsyth, 
1737-1804, the King’s Gardener at Kensington, author 
of “Observations on the Diseases of Trees,” London, 
1791). Orp. Oledcec. Very ornamental hardy dwarf 
deciduous shrubs. Flowers yellow, drooping, solitary. 
Leaves simple or compound, glabrous. Branches slender. 
For culture, see Fontanesia. 
FIG. 23. FLOWERING BRANCH OF FORSYTHIA SUSPENSA. 
F. suspensa (hanging-down).* fl. yellow, few, scattered, on very 
slender branches ; peduncles slender. 1. simple and trifoliolate on 
the same branch, toothed ; central leaflet largest. Japan and 
China. This is a very graceful shrub, which does thoroughly 
' some of the most extensive and beautiful summer floral 
Forsythia—continued. 
well either asa climber against a wall, or treated as a bush in 
the open shrubbery border ; it also forces readily. In nurseries, 
it is frequently met with under the names of F. Fortunei and 
F. Siebolui. See Fig. 23. (S. Z. F. J. 3.) 
F. viridissima (very green).* fl. yellow, numerous; peduncles 
much shorter than the flowers, bracteolate. March. /. all 
simple, -linear-lanceolate or oblong, acute. h. 10ft. 
lea — 
Japan, ` M. 4587.) Ta 
FORTUNEA. A synonym of Platycarya (which # toh 
Peedo, 
see). 
FOTHERGILLA (named in honour of John Fother- P A. 
gill, 1712-1780, an eminent physician and patron of 5 y 
botany). ORD. Hamamelidee. The only species of this tA 
genus is a pretty hardy deciduous shrub. It thrives i 
best in a moist sandy peat; and may be increased by 
seeds, which should be sown in spring, in a peaty soil. 
The varieties may be propagated by layers. 
F. alnifolia (Alder-leaved).* fl. white, sweet-scented, sessile, 
spicate, terminal, ovate, appearing before the leaves, April, 
May. l. alternate, obovate, stipulate, clothed with soft, starry 
down. h. 3ft. to 6ft. North-eastern America, 1765. The 
following are varieties : 
F. a. acuta (acute). l. narrow, ovate, acute. 
F. a. major (greater). l. ovate-oblong, somewhat cordate at 
the base. (B. M. 1342.) ; 
F. a. obtusa (blunt-leaved). l. obovate, crenate at the top, 
when young downy beneath. (B. M. 1341.) 
F. a. serotina (late-flowering). l. oblong, acute, crenately 
toothed at top. : 
FOUNTAINS. In connection with garden, con- 
servatorys and room decorations, Fountains are represented 
in various forms, and are constructed in sizes varying from 
specimens of the most minute description in a room, 
to an enormous display of waterworks, as shown in exten- 
sive public gardens and other establishments. An im- 
portant point in the introduction of a Fountain is the 
selection of a situation that is at once appropriate and 
in keeping with surrounding objects. The centre of an 
inclosed flower garden, of a formal description and 
geometrically laid out, could not, perhaps, be better 
oceupied than with a Fountain and circular basin, having 
a walk round it in connection with other cross walks 
tion with an elevated reservoir or other source of 
supply from which a force can be obtained, and they may 
be fixed so as to conduct the water in various direc- 
tions, and cause it to disperse and descend in minute 
particles. The jets are best arranged amongst a pile 
of rockwork or large stones, that help to conceal them 
from view when the water is stopped. A Fountain 
has a cooling effect in a conservatory, in summer; and 
when constructed in a prominent position, as in the 
centre, it is invariably a source of attraction. In 
decorations, a small Fountain is introduced, with flowers 
of various Nympheas, &c., dropped in the water beneath. 
This forms an interesting and novel addition, and one 
that is generally much admired. 
FOUQUIERA (named in honour of Peter Edward 
Fouquier, M.D., a French physician). Orp. Tama- 
riscinee. A genus containing three species of very 
glabrous, spinose trees or shrubs, natives of Mexico. 
F. formosa is described as being a very showy stove 
shrub. It thrives in a loamy and fibry peat; and is 
— by cuttings, planted in heat, under a bell 
glass. 
F. formosa (splendid).* fl. scarlet, lin. long, disposed in terminal 
erect spikes; corolla tube cylindrical, a little arched; limb 
spreadingly refiexed. l, ong, scattered, rather fleshy. ‚h. 6ft. 
to 10ft. Ya {460 dp hc P-31 —— 
FOUQUIEREZ. A tribe of Tamariscinee. 
FOURCROYA. See Furcreza. 
