Fennel.--Sow the seed in April, cover lightly with fine mould, and
when the plants are strong enough set them out 1 ft. apart. Cut off
the flower-stalks as soon as they appear, to prevent them running to
seed. The bed will last for years. (_See also_ "Ferula.")
Fenzlia.--Elegant half-hardy annuals. Sow the seed on a peat soil. If
this be done in autumn, they will flower in April or May; if sown in
spring, they will bloom in autumn. Height, 6 in.
Ferns.--Most Ferns delight in a loose soil, an abundance of moisture,
and a warm, humid atmosphere. The stove and greenhouse kinds are best
cultivated in a mixture of sandy loam and peat. The hardy kinds grow
best among rock-work or in a shady border: a light, sandy soil suits
them. They may be increased by dividing the roots.
Ferns from Seed.--Collect the spore-fronds towards the end of summer,
just as the spore-cases begin to open. Place them on a sheet of paper
in a box for a few days, keeping it in a dry place. Most of the spores
will fall out, the others may be rubbed out with the hand. These
spores will keep good a long time, but are best sown within a year.
Fill the pots with good heavy loam, water freely, and apply a coating
of charcoal, coarse sand, and sphragnum moss, rubbed through a fine
sieve. Damp the surface, sow the spores thinly, and cover with glass.
Keep the soil moist by standing the pots for a time each day up to
their rim in water. No surface water should be given. Stand the pots
in a warm, light place in the greenhouse, but keep them shaded from
the sun. When the surface is covered with growth, prick out into pans
or boxes, using a rich, light soil. When they are large enough pot
them off singly in thumb-pots, re-potting as soon as these are filled
with roots.