300 
considered the best. The Barnisote and the Aubique pro- 
duce delicious large fruits, but they must be dried with 
fire-heat, and are usually consumed fresh. The ordinary 
drying is effected in the sun. For remarks on this and 
other points, concerning the Fig, the valuable tract, recently 
published by the Eev. Dr. Bleasdale, should be consulted. 
The first crop of figs grows on wood of the preceding year, 
the last crop however on wood of the current year. Yarieties 
of particular excellence are known from Genua, Savoy, 
Malaga, Andalusia. 
Fleming'ia tuberosa^ Dalzell. 
Western India. The tubers of this herb are said to be 
edible. Another species, F. vestita, it on record as culti- 
vated in North-western India for its small esculent tubers. 
Foeniculum officinale, Allioni. 
The Fennel. Mediterranean regions, particularly on lime- 
stone soil. A perennial or biennial herb, of which two 
primary varieties occur — the so-called sweet variety having 
fruits almost twice as large as the other. The herb and 
fruits are in use as condiments and the latter also for 
medicine. The fruits are rich in essential oil, containing 
much Anethol. 
Fourcroya Cubensis, Haworth. 
West India and continental tropical America. A smaller 
species than the following, but equally utilized for fibre and 
impenetrable hedges. F.flavo-viridis, Hooker, from Mexico, 
is still smaller. 
Fourcroya gigantea, Yentenat. 
Central America. With species of Yucca, Agave, Dracaena, 
Cordyline, Phormium, Doryanthes and this and a few other 
Furcroyas, we have gigantic liliaceous plants available 
industrially for fibre. Frost injures the leaves of this 
species. Scape up to 30 feet high. 
Fourcroya longaeva, Karw. and Zucc. 
High mountains of Guatemala and Mexico, at an elevation 
of about 10,000 feet. One of the most gigantic and mag- 
nificent of all liliaceous or amaryUideous plants, in volumen 
