FIN 



227 



FLO 



open, as then the shaking of the trees, 

 by the act of pruning, assists in the dif- 

 fusion of the pollen. The young shoots 

 should be shortened to about half their 

 length ; and it is best to cut to a bud 

 that shows a female blossom. All 

 suckers should be carefully removed. 

 Formerly it was the practice to train 

 tlie branches to nearly a horizontal po- 

 sition, which may still be seen in many 

 old plantations; but experience has 

 shown that the trees produce equally 

 well, and as good nuts, by allowing 

 them to take a more natural form. By 

 way of manuring, some cultivators 

 throw off the surface soil two or three 

 feet wide round the stem of the tree, 

 and into this basin the small prunings, 

 leaves, &c., are put and dug in." — ■ 

 Card. Chron. 



Preserving. — " The easiest and best 

 method is to gather them when quite dry, 

 and stow them away in large garden pots, 

 or other earthen vessels, sprinkling a 

 little salt amongst them throughout 

 the whole mass, which preserves the 

 husks from getting mouldy and rotten ; 

 the pots should then be turned bottom 

 upwards on boards, and buried in the 

 ground, or kept air-tight by some other 

 means. Stoneware jars, with lids, might 

 be advantageously used for this pur- 

 pose, and nuts of any kind will keep a 

 long time in this way." — Gard. Chron. 



Insects. See Curculio and Aphis. 



FINOCHIO or AZOREAN FENNP:L 

 (Anethum azoricum), does not usually 

 succeed in this country. Neither is it 

 in much esteem here, being agreeable 

 to few palates. It is served with a 

 dressing like salads. 



Soil and Situation. — For the first crop 

 a rich light soil on a moderate hot-bed 

 must be selected; for the succeeding 

 sowings a more retentive one, but for 

 the last two a return must be had to a 

 drier and a warmer situation. A small 

 bed will be required only at each 

 sowing; one twenty feet by four is suf- 

 ficient for the largest family. 



Time and Mode of Sowing. — From the 

 beginning of March until the close of 

 July, at intervals of a month, for 

 after attaining its full growth, it im- 

 mediately advances for seed. The seed 

 is sown in drills two feet asunder, to 

 remain; scattered thinly, that is, about 

 two inches apart, and about half an inch 

 below the surface. The first sowings 

 must be in a slight hot-bed, and under 



a frame. The seedlings must be small- 

 hoed, to kill the weeds, from which they 

 should be kept completely clear through- 

 out their growth; but at first only thin 

 to three or four inches asunder, as it 

 cannot thus early be determined which 

 will be the most vigorous plants. After 

 the lapse of another month they may be 

 finally thinned to seven or eight inches 

 distance from each other. Moderate 

 waterings are required throughout their 

 growth during dry weather; and in the 

 meridian of hot days the beds are ad- 

 vantageously shaded, until after the 

 plants are well up. When of advanced 

 growth, about ten weeks after coming 

 up, the stems must be earthed up to the 

 height of five or six inches, tn blanch 

 for use, which will be effected in ten or 

 fourteen days. In the whole about 

 twelve or fourteen weeks elapse be- 

 tween the time of sowing and their be- 

 ing fit for use. In autumn, if frosty 

 mornings occur, they should have the 

 protection of some litter or other light 

 covering. 



To obtain Seed. — The seed coming 

 from Italy is generally worthless, and 

 in this country it is saved with difficulty, 

 the plants of the last sowings, if left, 

 being killed by the winter; and if some 

 of the earliest are allowed to remain, 

 they never ripen until late in the year, 

 and are often killed by early severe 

 frosts. 



FIR. See Pinus and Coniferee. 



FISH. See Animal Matters. 



FLACOURTIA. Eight species. 

 Stove evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. 

 Loam and peat. 



FLAKE, is the term by which a car- 

 nation is distinguished that has two 

 colours only, and these extending 

 through the petals. 



j FLAX-STAR. Phormium Linum- 

 stellatum. 



FLORISTS' FLOWERS are those 

 which, by their beauty or fragrance, 

 power to produce permanent varieties, 

 and facility of cultivation, are so largely 

 in demand as to render them especially 

 worthy of cultivation as an article of 

 commerce. 



j Mr. Glenny has justly enumerated the 

 necessary characteristics of a florist's 

 flower to be — 1st. The power to be 

 perpetuated and increased by slips and 

 other modes independent of its seed. 

 2dly, the power to produce new varie- 

 1 ties from seed, capable, like their parent, 



