116 glenny's handbook 



111 the spring the crown may be excited slowly in a green- 

 house or close frame ; but as the summer draws on it will 

 grow freely enough in the open air, where it should have a 

 branchy stake or a trellis six or eight feet high. It may be 

 kept in a pot trained around stakes cylinder fashion, and 

 may be increased by cuttings. The flowers of this kind are 

 less funnel-shaped than is usual among the plants of this 

 order. E. fHiforme, flowers purple. E. repandum, flowers 

 red. 



FABIANA. [Solanaceoe.] A half-hardy evergi-een shrub, 

 with twiggy branches, and white, tubular, or rather club- 

 shaped flowers. It is a pretty plant to place against a 

 sheltered wall ; but a duplicate should be potted, and kept 

 during winter in a cool greenhouse in case of severe frost. 

 Sandy compost, containing a third part of peat eai'th. In- 

 creased by cuttings, planted in sand in a gentle heat. The 

 best is F. imbricata, white. 



FAIRY ROSE. See Rosa Laweenceana. 



FAN PALM. See Corypha. 



FEATHER GRASS. See Stipa. 



FEDIA. [Valerianaceae.] Hardy annuals, one or two of 

 which are pretty objects^ The best is F. graciliflora. Sown 

 in pots about March, and planted out subsequently, the plants 

 bloom in June ; but if sowti in the open ground in April they 

 bloom in July, in either case continuing in flower for some 

 time in succession. Planted moderately thick, this Fedia 

 forms a good bed plant. Light rich garden soil. 



FELICIA. [Compositae.] A small genus, containing a 

 neat dwarf half-hardy annual. Soil, rich light garden mould. 

 Increased by seeds. Sow in March in pots in a frame, and 

 in April in the borders. It is know^i as Aster tenellus. 



FENNEL FLOWER. See Nigella. 



FERRARI A. [Iridacese.] Dwarf greenhouse bulb tubers, 

 rather curious than beautiful. Soil, sandy loam and peat, 

 equal parts. Increased by offsets or seeds. The tubers 

 should be kept dry after the leaves have decayed. 



FERNS. See under the several heads of Adiantum, 

 Asplenium, Aspidium, Blechxum, Cheilaxthes, Gymno- 

 GRAMMA, Polypodium:, Pteris, Polystichu^j:, Scolopen- 

 DRiuM, Davallia, Lastrea, Lycopodium, Selanginella, ttc. 



