THE HOME FLORIST. -~ 



FERN (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, 45 or 30, 80). 



There are many varieties of Ferns or Brakes found growing in wood and swamp lands, in all 

 parts of our country. These are principally of kinds whose roots continue to live from year to 

 year the tops dying annually. There are numerous varieties grown in greenhouses, differing from 

 these inasmuch as the foliage is perennial or evergreen, thus being continually attractive, summer 

 and winter. This class are among the most attractive plants which can be grown under glass or 

 in the window, and especially in the latter, with the use of a Fernery or plant case. On page 

 19 this means of growing plants is treated upon, and I will repeat that it exactly suits the wants of 

 Ferns and many other plants of similar requirements. Ferns are propagated from the spores 

 which form on the leaves, these being sown in earth similar to seeds of seed bearing plants, 

 a somewhat difficult and uncertain means of propagation, with which few amateurs would be 

 successful, for want of suitable appliances. The plants should be grown in soil largely com- 

 posed of leaf mould from the woods. 



FEVERFEW PYRETHRUM (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 45, 83). 



Very useful bedding plants in several varieties, all of which are nearly hardy, of the easiest 

 possible culture and readily propagated from cuttings. The double white Feverfew (Pyrethrum 

 Parthenum) produces an immense crop of perfectly double, pure white, daisy-like flowers, an 

 inch and upwards in size, in clusters, on stems eighteen inches high, the fore part of summer, 

 and then less freely at intervals, until late in the season, on which account it has become an 

 important plant in every florist's greenhouse, and is deserving of general cultivation at the hands 

 of amateurs, especially as there need be no failure with managing it to produce an abundance 

 of bloom. 



Prince Alfred is a variety similar to the preceding but of dwarfer habit. Golden Feather 

 Feverfew possesses no merit as a flowering plant, but is highly esteemed for its attractive, delicate 

 cut foliage of greenish golden color, and the dense symmetrical growth it assumes. It is a 

 beautiful plant for massing or planting in ribbon lines and, like the two varieties described 

 above, is very suitable as a pot plant or for planting in vases and large hanging baskets. The 

 flower shoots should be pinched back as they appear. All the Feverfews may be taken from 

 the ground in fall and wintered in a cold-pit. To rear an abundance of stock for bedding, take 

 plants thus secured, into heat in February and then make cuttings of the young shoots. 



FORGET-ME-NOT. See Myosotis. 

 FOUR O'CLOCK. See Mirabilis Jalapa. 



FOX GLOVE. See Digitalis. 

 FUCHSIA LADY'S EAR DROP (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, 50, 85). See Fig. 43. 



The Fuchsia is another of those superb families of plants, the varieties of which, to an 

 extent, are indispensable in every collection of choice plants. It is a well known genus, and 

 has for years attracted the attention of cultivators by its elegant appearance and lovely flowers. 

 The Lady's Ear Drop, as it is commonly called, is associated with our earliest recollection of 

 window plants, cultivated many years ago, but since that time, like with many other things, the 

 florist's art of hybridizing has caused wonderful changes and improvements in the flowers, and 

 has rendered the varieties of to-day immensely superior to those known a score of years ago. 

 The Fuchsia is admirably adapted for pot culture on the window-shelf or in the conservatory 

 some varieties flowering beautifully in the winter. They delight not so much in a high tempera- 

 ture as in a light place in which they can frequently be treated to fresh air. Their nature 

 requires a season of rest annually, which should be given the ordinary varieties from the latter 

 part of summer until January, and the winter blooming kinds for several months in summer. 

 During this time water should be withheld from the plants to an extent that will cause the 

 leaves to drop, a little being applied occasionally to prevent the soil from becoming entirely dry. 

 They may be placed in any dry, airy place, but in the winter not where it freezes. After they 

 have rested sufficiently, they should be cut back to a degree that will encourage the formation of 

 a well formed plant from the new growth, and should be well supplied with water. As the 

 flower buds appear, plants may receive an occasional watering with liquid manure. Frequently 

 repotting the plants as they require it into larger sized pots, and in a soil of the most fertile 

 nature it may be one-half well rotted manure are important in growing the plant to perfec- 

 tion. By paying attention to this, and supplying sufficient water, a growth of an astonishing 

 magnitude and appearance may be had in the time of a few months, by starting with a good 

 healthy young plant. Excellent as a flowering plant in the center of hanging baskets and vases, 

 and the double varieties are quite suitable for bedding in a partially shaded place protected from 

 sweeping winds. 



Alba coccinea, sepals white; corolla violet, mottled with rose; tube streaked with dark pink. 

 Arabella, white tube and sepals ; corolla rich rose. Aurora Superba, rich, waxy pink ; splendid 

 habit. Avalanche (Smith's), tube and sepals carmine ; corolla deep violet, and exceedingly 

 large and double; a free grower and profuse bloomer; regarded as one of the finest double 

 varieties. Bianca, white sepals ; deep pink corolla. Bianca marginata, early, free flowering ; 

 the sepals are white and finely reflexed ; corolla delicate pink ; a handsome branching, erect 

 grower. Bridesmaid, sepals white ; dark pink corolla. Brilliant, corolla bright scarlet ; sepals 



