Fritillarias (_Crown Imperials, or Snake's Head Lilies_).--Soil, sandy
loam, or well-drained, deep, rich mould. Plant in the open ground in
autumn; take the bulbs up as soon as the leaves decay, and preserve
them in a rather moist place. Increased by off-sets taken from the old
roots every third year. They are not so suitable for pot culture
as for outdoor decoration. They are quite hardy, and flower in the
spring, bearing clusters of pendent bell-shaped flowers surrounded
with tufts of fresh green leaves.
F. Meleagris are of dwarf, slender growth, and bear in early spring
elegant pendent flowers of various shades netted and marked with
darker colours. These are suitable for either the border or pots.
Plant in autumn.
Fruit Trees, the Pruning of.--Cut away all growths that have an inward
tendency, and do not allow any shoot to cross over or come in contact
with another; also keep the centres of the trees or bushes open. The
fruit of trees thus treated is not so liable to be blown down by the
wind, and the sun can more readily ripen it. If the ground is poor a
dressing of rotted manure worked into the soil will be beneficial to
the roots.
Fuchsias.--These like a warm and moist atmosphere. The hardy sorts do
well out of doors in rich, light soil. On the approach of frost cut
them down and cover the roots with 3 or 4 in. of coal dust, ashes, or
moss. Remove the ashes in April and thin out the shoots in May. They
will also grow well from cuttings taken off the old wood as soon as
they are 1 in. long, inserted in sand and placed under glass, or
plunged in dung at a temperature of 60 degrees. Cuttings will also
strike in loam and leaf-mould. If grown in pots, take them indoors
before the frosty weather begins, and give them very little or no
water at all during the winter. Keep them in a cool place, yet free
from frost. Re-pot them in the spring, trimming the branches and
roots, and making a compost for them of one-half mellow yellow loam,
one quarter leaf-mould, and one quarter old manure. Place them in a
frame with bottom-heat, and water and syringe them moderately while
they are growing. When they are in full growth never give them plain
water, but always plenty of liquid manure.