30 
THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
. Pruit-gathering—continued. 
depend a great deal on careful gathering at the proper 
time, and subsequent storing; an indication of the time 
is generally known by some of the fruit falling off, and 
by the condition of the pips. Fruit-gathering is always 
best performed by two persons, one to carry a proper 
basket, and the other to collect and place the fruit in it. 
FRUIT PROTECTORS. In the northern and 
other parts of the country, where Apricots, Peaches, &c., 
do not succeed in the open air, on account of the annual — 
destruction of the flowers by frost, an erection of a 
= eee) 
Fig, 45. WALL-FRUIT PLANT PROTECTOR. 
glass Protector above them (see Fig. 45, a) may frequently 
be found of great value. The framework should be fixed 
on stout brackets, and glazed on a system that admits 
of the glass being removed in summer to allow rain 
and plenty of air to get to the trees. Netting, frigi- 
domo, or other coverings, may be suspended from the 
front of the glass Protecto , in the direction shown by the 
dotted line. A portable Plant and Fruit Protector (see 
Fig. 46, PORTABLE PLANT AND FRUIT PROTECTOR. 
Fig. 46) is usually a very useful structure for growing 
any dwarf subjects in summer, and for storing plants, 
such as Strawberries, in winter. 
FRUIT-ROOM. A structure specially set apart in 
gardens for the storing and preservation of fruit. It 
should have a dry, airy position, and one affected as little 
as possible by fluctuations of temperature. Means to 
prevent the occurrence of these internally are introduced 
into the best-constructed Fruit-rooms by building with 
hollow walls, or by placing wood partitions round and above 
the shelves inside, and- allowing a channel between them 
and the wall or roof for a free passage of air. The Fruit- 
room has usually a central walk and tiers of shelves on 
either side. The bottom of the latter should be of lattice- 
work, so as to allow plenty of air amongst the fruit. It 
is best to have heat at command, either by a small fine 
or stove, or, better still, by hot-water pipes, with means 
‘is most injurious. 
of applying or stopping it as desired. It is not advisable 
to give more heat than is sufficient to preserve a dry | 
atmosphere and maintain a steady cool temperature. | 
Fruit, when kept too warm, invariably shrivels, and, if 
FPruit-room—continued. 
allowed to become very cold, any change to warmer air 
causes a condensation of moisture over the surface that. 
It is considered to keep and retain a 
better flavour when in a dark place, and, to this end, 
movable shutters or blinds may be used for excluding 
light at the windows. All fruit should be stored in a dry 
state, and constantly examined during winter for the 
removal of any part showing signs of decay, as a single 
specimen allowed to become rotten will speedily affect 
all others with which it comes in contact. A small ven- 
tilator in the roof, provided with means for closing in 
severe frost or in very changeable weather, will be suffi- - 
cient to cause a change of air and allow the exhalations 
from the fruit to escape. : 
FRUTESCENT, FRUTICOSE. Shrubby. 
FRUTICULOSE. Of very dwarf shrubby habit. 
FUCHSIA (named after Leonard Fiichs, 1501-1566, a 
German botanist). ORD. Onagracee. A genus comprising 
about fifty species of small shrubs or trees, natives, with 
comparatively few exceptions, of Central and Southern 
America, most of them having been introduced from 
Chili, Mexico, and Peru. Flowers usually drooping, on 
axillary one-flowered pedicels, which are sometimes dis- 
posed in racemes or panicles at the tops of the branches. 
Leaves generally opposite. The Fuchsia ranks as one of 
the most ornamental and popular of garden plants. The 
first plant is stated to have been brought to this country 
by a sailor, about the end of the last century. It was 
observed growing in his window by Mr. James Lee, a 
nurseryman, of_the firm still existing under the name of 
Lee and Son; at Hammersmith, and, appearing to be a 
promising plant of an unknown kind, he succeeded, 
after some little trouble, in purchasing it. A stock 
was soon obtained, and the next year a large number 
of plants were distributed. The first representative of 
the genus had been discovered something like a century 
‘previous to this, but none had been introduced to this 
country. A few species arrived in succession up to about 
1840, when the raising of varieties by seed seems to have 
commenced with that collected from species with long 
fiowers, then recently received. From selection and care- 
ful fertilisation of the different flowers afterwards obtained, 
the numerous varieties now grown have descended. - Until 
about thirty years ago, these only included flowers with a — 
red tube and sepals, and a blue or purple corolla, or those 
with creamy-white sepals and rose or pink corollas. Then 
a variety was raised having a white corolla, and subse- 
quently double flowers, in various colours, appeared. These 
all combined have produced the numerous varied selections 
of the present day. Several of the old species are still 
largely grown, the profusion in which the flowers are pro- 
duced fully compensating for their small size individually. 
Many are amongst the most beautiful of hardy or half- 
hardy plants for outside borders, while others of a more — 
tender constitution are distinct and interesting sub- 
jects for culture inside. F. macrostema globosa, F. m. 
gracilis, and F. m. Riccartoni are representatives of the 
former class; and F. boliviana, F. corymbiflora, F. fulgens, 
F. microphylla, F. procumbens, and F. splendens, of the 
latter description. The use of the floriferous varieties 
for decorative purposes is well known, their graceful 
and usually compact habit rendering them general fa- 
vourites. Whether plants be required of a large size 
for exhibition, or others of smaller proportions for green- 
house or window decoration, centres of vases, and outside 
flower borders in summer, the Fuchsia is equally well 
adapted for one and all. Nothing is more attractive than 
these, in summer and autumn, in a greenhouse, if trained 
to the rafters or pillars, and their branches allowed to 
grow and droop naturally with the weight of the flowers. 
Propagation is effected by seeds for the raising of new 
varieties, and by cuttings for the perpetuation of those 
