AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



19 



FOOTSTALK. The stalk of a leaf. 



FORCING. This is one of the most important 

 operations in the whole routine of gardening, and one 

 that requires the greatest care in practice for obtaining 

 successful results. It has to be mainly conducted 

 throughout the winter and early spring, when outside 

 temperatures are extremely variable, and when the 

 amount of sunshine and consequent light obtained is, 

 at best, but very limited. Forced flowers, fruits, and 

 vegetables, are annually in demand, and aU have to be 

 procured under conditions that are generally unnatural 

 to the plants at the time, in consequence of an insuf- 

 ficient season of rest being allowed them. Fruit-trees 

 carefully forced in successive seasons, and properly 

 ripened after the fruit is gathered, finish their growth, 

 and begin a season of rest, earlier than those allowed 

 to grow more in accordance with their natural habit. 

 These start the more readily, in consequence, when 

 artificial heat is applied. Many flowering plants are 

 so far injured by early Forcing, as to be unavailable 

 for the purpose the following year; but they may 

 generally be recruited in health, in the course of two 

 seasons, by planting out, and, in the meantime, using 

 others that have been prepared in a similar way. The 

 preparation of plants for Forcing, or selection of those 

 only which are thoroughly ripened, is always one of the 

 most important points. A fruit-tree, or flowering plant, 

 thus treated will have its embryo flowers formed inside 

 the bud-scales, and ready for expanding when the ne- 

 cessary heat and moisture are given. In the early stages 

 of Forcing operations, heat should be applied as gradually 

 as possible, beginning with a little warmer, closer atmo- 

 sphere than that allowed during the resting period. A 

 temperature not exceeding 50deg. to 55deg. by artificial 

 heat will suit a large number of plants to start with, 

 but these figures must not be taken as applying to all 

 alike they would be too high. Most plants subjected to 

 Forcing will bear more heat after the buds swell and 

 commence growing, than they will previously. The value 

 of sunshine and light cannot be over-estimated; conse- 

 quently, both should be admitted to the fullest extent in 

 winter, when the sun will seldom be strong enough to 

 injure the tenderest foliage. It is not advisable to apply 

 heat, when the weather is dull, to maintain a tempera- 

 ture equal to that supplied naturally on brighter days, 

 as the result would be an encouragement of weak, atten- 

 uated growths, which, with a return of sun, or an 

 admission of air, would immediately droop. Very early 

 Forcing renders many plants and vegetables useless after- 

 wards, and this necessitates an annual supply being 

 raised for the purpose. Almost any positions in heated 

 structures may be utilised for such, as, once the crop 

 is secured, in the case of either flowers or vegetables, 

 the roots may be destroyed, and their place taken by 

 others. Vines, and fruit or other permanent trees, are 

 of much more consequence ; hence, the greatest care is 

 necessary, in Forcing, not only to conduct it so as to 

 gain a crop the following season, but also to avoid doing 

 anything that may prove injurious to the well-being of 

 the trees afterwards. A ridge of fermenting material, 

 composed of fresh stable litter and plenty of leaves, is 

 frequently used, with good results, for starting early Vines 

 or Peach-trees. It requires to be often turned and re- 

 newed, in order to keep the requisite temperature, which, 

 supplied in this way, contains much more moisture than 

 would be procurable with the aid of fire heat. The 

 hot-water pipes must, however, be available for use as 

 well at any time required. 



FORCING HOUSE. The quantities of cut flowers 

 and plants required in many gardens, render it a necessity 

 to either build or set apart a special structure for forcing 

 purposes, with provision for those subjects needing bottom 

 heat, and a bed or staging for others that are better with- 

 out. A Forcing House is also, sometimes, specially reserved 



Forcing House continued. 



for such plants as Strawberries, where they are placed in 

 a high temperature, after flowering is over, for the purpose 

 of swelling and maturing the fruit. A span-roofed 

 building* is most suitable for accommodating plants of 

 various heights, and is, at the same time, one that admits 

 most light. If provided with a glass partition, and sepa- 

 rate valves in the heating arrangements, an advantage is 

 gained of keeping one part a little cooler than the other, 

 and introducing plants into this when first starting them. 

 The Forcing House should be in a sheltered position in the 

 garden, but not so as to be shaded in winter ; and it should 

 have plenty of heat at command. A span-roofed structure 

 admits of a centre stage with path round, and side beds 

 under which pipes could be placed for bottom heat ; or, 

 in the case of a small one, the path may be through the 

 centre, and beds arranged on either side. All plants may 

 be stood near the light, in a house of this description, by 

 raising or lowering them according to height, but this 

 condition could not be procured so readily in one of 

 another shape. Stronger and more equable bottom heat 

 is obtained when the pipes pass through a shallow water 

 tank underneath the plunging material. A span-roofed 

 house, about 30ft. long, 16ft. wide, and 9ft. high, would 

 allow considerable space for plants of various sizes, and 

 would be most desirable for other purposes, when not 

 required for forcing. A minimum temperature of from 

 50deg. to 55deg. is preferable to a higher one for starting 

 most flowering plants not requiring bottom heat. This 

 may be raised lOdeg. after growth commences. Much 

 must depend, in forcing, on the condition of the weather 

 outside. Light syringings, with water as warm as the 

 house, may be given on bright days, and all possible sun 

 heat should be retained in the winter and early spring 

 months, when forcing operations are of the greatest im- 

 portance. The admission of air by the ventilators must be 

 conducted with great care, when it becomes necessary to 

 open them, on account of the tender foliage or flowers. A 

 change of air takes place continually between the laps of 

 the glass, particularly when the outside temperature is 

 much lower than that inside. Fire heat should be stopped 

 in the day-time, so soon as the sunshine is strong enough 

 to give sufficient warmth without it. 



FORFICTJLA AURICULARIA. See Earwigs. 



FORGET-ME-NOT. See Myosotis palustris. 



FORE. This is one of the most useful of garden im- 

 plements, made in various sizes and shapes to specially 

 suit the work for which any particular one is intended. 

 Those with two prongs are best for light litter, and for 

 mixing manure, &c. The four, and sometimes five-pronged 

 Forks are those mostly used, being frequently more ser- 

 viceable for digging or levelling down soil than the spade. 

 It is an indispensable tool for removing earth from the 

 roots of trees or shrubs when transplanting, as, if care- 

 fully worked from the stem outwards, the soil is loosened, 



FIG. 22. FLAT-TINED DIGGING FORK. 



and the roots uninjured in the process. The Fork is not 

 in general use for digging, as it does not so thoroughly 

 remove the earth at the bottom as the spade; but in 

 many cases where the latter cannot, for various reasons, be 

 properly worked, the former will be found a certain sub- 

 stitute. A good form for ordinary kitchen garden work, 

 and for lifting crops, such as Potatoes, &c., is that made 

 with four flattened prongs (see Fig. 22). The quality of 

 the steel, with the proper mode of manufacturing M 



