AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



157 



FOR 



as during the winter months the sun will sel- 

 dom be strong enough to injure the tenderest 

 foliage. As many flowers and vegetables are 

 of no further use after having been forced, it 

 is necessary to raise an annual supply of 

 strong healthy roots for this purpose. Al- 

 most any position in a heated structure may 

 be utilized for such, a succession crop being 

 planted every two or three weeks as necessity 

 may require, the old roots being destroyed as 

 soon as the crop is over, and replaced by a new 

 batch. In many establishments, small span 

 roofed houses are used for forcing Cucumbers, 

 Tomatoes, etc., a row of plants being planted 

 on either side and trained upon trellises under 

 the glass. Similar structures are also used 

 for forwarding Cauliflower, Beets, Bush Beans, 

 Dwarf Peas, Eadishes, and other salading. 

 The new Bush Lima Bean can also be suc- 

 cessfully forced in this manner. The method 

 of forcing the principal Fruits, Vegetables, 

 etc., is described under their respective 

 names. If raised benches are used, a succes- 

 sion of Asparagus, Sea-Kale, Rhubarb,Chicory, 

 etc., may be profitably grown underneath 

 them ; the stems of those vegetables being 

 much more tender and succulent when 

 blanched, than when exposed to the light. 



Forget-Me-Not. See Myosotis. 



Forked. Separating into distinct branches 

 more or less apart. 



Forsy'thia. In honor of William Forsyth, royal 

 gardener at Kensington, Eng. Author' of 

 "Observations on the Diseases of Trees." 

 London, 1791. Nat. Ord. Oleacece. 



A small genus of ornamental deciduous, 

 hardy shrubs, introduced from the north of 

 China in 1845. F. viridissima is one of the 

 earliest of spring flowering shrubs, being 

 completely covered in early spring with tufts 

 of rather large, pendulous, bright yellow 

 flowers, which grow two or three together 

 from all parts of the rod-like branches. It is 

 easily increased by cuttings or layers. F. 

 suspensa is also a very graceful and free- 

 flowering shrub with deep green foliage and 

 bright yellow flowers, somewhat more droop- 

 ing in its growth than the foregoing. It is 

 frequently cultivated under the names of F. 

 Fortunei, and F. Sieboldi. 



Fothergi'lla. A gonus of the Witch-hazels 

 Hamamelidacece, named in honor of Dr. John 

 Fothergill, of London, an eminent physician 

 and botanist, 1712-1780. F. alnifolia, the 

 only species, is a low shrub with oval or obo- 

 vate leaves toothed at the summit. The 

 flowers are white and sweet scented, borne in 

 spicate terminal racemes, and appearing in 

 April and May, rather before the leaves. It 

 is found in low grounds from Virginia south- 

 ward, and is increased by seeds or layers. 



Fountain Plant. A popular name for Amaran- 

 thus salicifolius. 



Fountains. These are often introduced in 

 garden or conservatory decoration, and are 

 represented in various forms and sizes, vary- 

 ing from specimens of the smallest descrip- 

 tion to an enormous display of water works, 

 as shown in extensive public gardens and 

 parks. The selection of an appropriate site 

 for the Fountain, and one that is in keeping 

 with surrounding objects, is one of the most 

 important points in its introduction. The 



FRA 



center of an inclosed formal or geometrically 

 arranged flower garden could not be better 

 occupied than with a fountain and circular 

 basin, having a walk round it in connection 

 with the other cross walks. Intersecting 

 points are the best in any case, on account of 

 the means thereby supplied of utilizing the 

 water from the basin. Either a single jet or 

 an indefinite number, if desired, must be in 

 connection with an elevated reservoir, or 

 other source of supply, from which a force can 

 be obtained, and they may be fixed so as to 

 conduct the water in various directions, and 

 cause it to disperse and descend in minute 

 particles. The jets are best arranged amongst 

 a pile of rockwork or large stones, that help 

 to conceal them froir. view when the water is 

 stopped. A Fountain has a cooling effect in 

 a conservatory in summer; and when con- 

 structed in a prominent position, as in the 

 center, it is invariably a source of attraction. 

 In some of the most extensive and beautiful 

 floral decorations, a small Fountain, with the 

 flowers and leaves of various Nympheeas, etc., 

 dropped in the basin underneath, forms an 

 interesting and novel feature, and one that is 

 generally admired. 



Fountain Tree. A popular name for Cedrua 

 Deodara. 



Fourcro'ya. Named after M. Fourcroy, a cele- 

 brated chemist. Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacece. 



A genus closely allied to Agave. Fifteen 

 species are described, all natives of Mexico. 

 F. longceva (long lived) throws up a magnificent 

 flower stem forty feet high. It is branching 

 and pyramidal, like the Yucca, though more 

 graceful. The lower branches of the terminal 

 pyramid are from ten to twelve feet long, and 

 are covered with innumerable white flowers. 

 From their great size they are rarely met in 

 collections. Syn. Furcrcea. 



Four o'Clocks. A popular name for Marvel of 

 Peru. See Mirabilis. 



Fowl Meadow Grass. See Poa serotina. 



Fox-Glove. See Digitalis. 



Fox's Brush. Centranthus ruber. 



Fox-Tail. Lycopodium clavatum. 



Fox-Tail Grass. Alopecurus pratensis. 



Fraga'ria. The Strawberry. From fra/jrantt, 

 fragrant ; in reference to the perfumed fruit. 

 Nat. Ord. Rosacece. 



According to Sir Joseph Banks and others, 

 the common name of Strawberry was given 

 on account of straw having been laid between 

 the plants to prevent the fruit from getting 

 soiled in wet weather. There are several 

 species of Strawberries, the principal of which 

 are, F. Virginiana, the Virginian or Scarlet, 

 the well-known native species ; F. grandiflora, 

 the Pine ; F. Chiliensis, the Chilian ; F. vesca, 

 the Wood and Alpine ; F. elatior, the Hautbois ; 

 F. viridis, the green ; F. Indica, the Indian, 

 not edible, but a pretty plant for hanging pots 

 and baskets, its berries being very attractive. 

 Like all the others, it is propagated by run- 

 ners as well as seed. Previous to 1629, the 

 date assigned to the introduction of the 

 Scarlet Strawberry from Virginia, the Wood 

 Strawberry is supposed to have been the kind 

 generally gathered for sale in England. The 

 varieties now grown are almost innumerable, 

 especially in the United States, and they are 



