44 Commercial Gardening 



through white, cream, primrose, rose, and red; the strains known as 

 " giant " and " gloxinia " flowered being the best. [E. H. J.] 



Francoa (MAIDEN'S WREATH). Almost hardy plants with roughish 

 leaves and long arching sprays of blossom. They are often grown in 

 pots, and are easily raised from seeds sown in warmth in spring. The 

 two species known, appendiculata and ramosa, both with white flowers, 

 are natives of Chili. 



Fritillaria (FRITILLARY). Of the many species of Fritillary known, 

 the Crown Imperial (F. imperial-is) seems to be the only one grown at 

 all extensively for market purposes. It is often grown in market gardens 

 between rows of fruit trees and bushes, and as it requires no attention, 

 once planted, it comes in as a useful catch crop in early summer. The 

 large bulbs emit a terrible stench, but the plants are nevertheless orna- 

 mental in appearance, and especially when bearing the large drooping 

 bell-shaped flowers near the summit of the tall, fleshy stems clothed with 

 glossy, green wavy leaves. Besides the ordinary yellow-flowered species 

 there are many varieties with different shades of orange and orange-red 

 colours. Any good and fairly moist and gritty garden soils suit the 

 Crown Imperial, and it lasts longer in partially shaded spots. The flowers, 

 with stems as long as possible, are sold in bunches in market, sometimes 

 realizing fair prices. There are several other kinds of Fritillaria large 

 and small, in which a trade is done by hardy plantsmen. 



Funkia (PLANTAIN LILY). These ornamental foliage plants with 

 thickish rootstocks flourish in any good garden soil, and are easily in- 

 creased by dividing the roots in autumn or spring, and also by seeds sown 

 in spring. There is a fairly good trade done in the plants in spring at very 

 varying prices. The following are amongst the best kinds: Fortunei, 

 1J ft., broad leaves, flowers pale lilac, the variety variegata having the 

 leaves striped with white; glauca, 1 ft., leaves grey-green, flowers deep 

 lilac; grandiftora (or subcordata), 1J ft., leaves ovate, flowers pure white; 

 lancifolia, 1 ft., leaves lance-shaped, flowers white; the variety albo- 

 marginata has leaves with creamy-white edges, and undulata has very 

 wavy leaves, one form of it having streaks and blotches of white; ovata, 

 1 ft., leaves ovate, grey green, flowers deep purple, a fine plant; the 

 variety striata (or medio-picta) has yellow stripes, and marginata has 

 white-margined leaves; Sieboldiana, 2 ft., the noblest of all, with fine large 

 whitish-green leaves, and lilac and white flowers. 



Gaillardia (FLANNEL FLOWER). Showy even to gorgeousness in some 

 instances, Gaillardia grandiflora (fig. 200) is a plant to be cultivated by 

 all who take up hardy flowering subjects from the commercial point of 

 view. Resplendent in crimson and gold and orange, the flowers of these 

 plants are self -advertising and appeal to a large number by reason of 

 their attractiveness. Valuable to the amateur in garden or flower bed, 

 and alike valuable to the market florist in the cut state selling like hot 

 cakes in provincial and country markets these are the things to grow 

 where an honest penny has to be turned. 



