Encyclopaedia of Gardening 1 1 3 



greenhouse, flowering in winter. They like a compost of loam, with 

 a quarter each of peat and leaf mould, and sand. The annuals are 

 raised from seed in a warm house or frame in spring ; and the peren- 

 nials from cuttings. Affine has violet flowers, and grows 6 ins. 

 high. Zeylanicum macranthum, violet, autumn, is also grown. 



Exochorda (exochor-da, from exo, outside, and chorde, a cord, in 

 allusion to the placenta. Ord. Rosaceae). Grandiflora is a beauti- 

 ful white-flowered shrub, blooming in May. It is not particular as 

 to soil, but likes a sheltered place. Propagation is by layers in 

 autumn or suckers in spring. See Botanical Magazine, t. 4795. 



Faba or Vicia (Broad Bean). See Kitchen Garden. 



Fagus, Beech (fa-gus, from phago, to eat, in allusion to the edible 

 seeds. Ord. Cupuliferae) . The common Beech is F. sylvatica, and 

 there are many varieties of it, such as dark purple, variegated, copper, 

 and pendulous. See Beech and Flower Garden. 



Fairy Rings. Circles of fungi are sometimes seen growing in the 

 grass, and every year they get stronger, owing to the rich nitro- 

 genous deposit following the decay of the earlier members. A 

 " fairy ring " in a meadow is interesting and pleasing, but it is out 

 of place in a garden, and may be destroyed by syringing with a 

 pound of sulphate of iron dissolved in 3 gallons of water. 



Fallowing. To " fallow " ground is to dig it and leave it without 

 a crop for a period, in order that the corruptible matter within it 

 may decompose and the ground be aerated. Good gardeners 

 rarely adopt this practice. By proper tillage and manuring they 

 make the ground capable of carrying continuous crops. 



False Acacia, Robinia Pseudacacia. 

 Farfugium. See Senecio. 

 Farm-yard Manure. See Manure. 



Fatsia (fat-sia, iromfatsi, the Japanese name. Ord. Araliaceae). 

 The one plant of importance in this genus is japonica, which is 

 almost universally grown under the name of Aralia Sieboldii, a half- 

 hardy shrub much esteemed as a room plant, thriving in sandy loam, 

 and propagated by cuttings. It will thrive out of doors in sheltered 

 places. 



Feather Grass, Stipa pennata. 



Fences. In enclosing ground to form a garden the nature of the 

 dividing line must be carefully considered. A wall is best, because 

 it gives immediate privacy, security from cattle, and shelter, besides 

 affording support for greenhouses, fruit houses, and trees. It is, 

 however, the most expensive. The cost varies, and estimates 

 should be got from local builders. An oak fence 6 ft. high may 

 cost 8s. per yard run. Galvanised wire fences are very popular. 

 A fence 4 ft. high will keep back stock. The wires should be a foot 

 apart, and the lower half protected with wire netting, to exclude 

 lambs and rabbits. The top wire at least should be barbed to 

 discourage cattle from putting their heads over ; but if there is any- 

 thing tempting on the other side they will try to get their heads 



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