A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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EYE 219 F AL
fruit trees, around which, at a distance
of six or eight feet from the stem, I had
deposited at a depth of twelve inches a
quantity of salt to promote the general
health and fruitfulnoss of the tree, according
to the manner formerly adopted
to some extent in the cider countries
for the apple orchards, that these escaped
the honey-dew which infected
adjacent trees, just as well as those
which had been watrrod with salt and
•water." Jolinson^s Principles of Gar-
dening.
EYEBRIGHT. Kitphrasia.
FABA vulgaris. See Bean.
FABRICIA. Four species. Greenhouse
evergreen shrubs. Cuttings.
Loam, peat, and sand.
FAGELIA bituminosa. Green-honse
evergreen twiner. Cuttings. Sandy
loam and peat.
FAGR/EA. Two species. Stove
evergreen trees. Cuttings. Loam,
sand, and peat.
FAGUS, Beech tree. Four species.
Seed, budding, and grafting. Chalky
loam.
FALKLV repens. Green-house evergreen
creeper. Cuttings. Peat and
loam.
FALL of the LEAF. Dr. Lindley
thus explains this phenomenon.
" In the course of time a leaf becomes
incapable of performing its
functions ; its passages are choked up
by the deposit of sedimentary matter ;
there is no longer a free communication
between its veins and the wood
and liber. It changes colour, ceases to
decompose carbonic acid, absorbs oxygen
instead, gets into a morbid condition,
and dies; it is then thrown off.
This phenomenon, which we call tlie
fall of the leaf, is going on the whole
year. Those trees which lose the
whole of their leaves at the approach
of winter, artd are called deciduous,
begin, in fact, to cast their leaves within
a few weeks after the commencement
of their vernal growth ; but the
mass of their foliage is not rejected till
late in the season. Those, on the
other hand, which are named evergreens,
part with their leaves much
more slowly; retain them in health at
the time when the leaves of other
plants arc perishing; and do not cast
them till a new spring has commenced,
when other trees are leafing, or even
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later. In the latter class, the functions
of the leaves are going on during all
the winter, although languidly ; they
are constantly attracting sap from the
earth through the spongelets, and are
therefore in a state of slow but continual
winter growth.
" It usually happens that the perspiratory
organs of these plants are less
active than in deciduous species."
Theory of Horticulture.
With all due deference to Dr. Lindley,
whose scientific acquirements are
ol' a high order, we cannot admit that
his theory in this particular is entirely
satisfactory. Nature has ordained that
vegetables shall perform certain functions,
and that which may appear to be
the cause of change, is in fact only
a result of the action of established
laws.
FALLOWING, beyond all doubt, is
needless where there is a due supply
of manure, and a sufficient application
of the spade, fork, and hoe to the soil.
Fallowing can have no other beneficial
influence than by destroying weeds,
aiding the decomposition of offensive
exuviaj, exposing the soil to the disintegrating
influence of the air, and accumulating
in it decomposing matter.
Now all these effects can be produced
by judicious stirrings and manurings.
Mr. Barnes, gardener to Lady Rolle,
at Bicton, bears confirmatory testimony
to this opinion, founded on many years'
experience.
" To rest or fallow ground for any
length of time is only loss of time and
produce; more benefit will be obtained
by trenching and forking in frosty or
hot sunny weather, in a few days, than
a whole season of what is erroneously
called rest or fallow. Trench, fork,
and hoe; change every succeeding
crop; return to the earth all refuse
that is not otherwise useful in a green
state, adding a change of other manures
occasionally, especially charred refuse
of any kind, at the time of putting a
crop into the ground. Every succeeding
crop wUl be found healthy and
luxuriant, suff'ering but little either
from drought, too much moisture, or
vermin." Principles of Gardening.
The practice of fallowing appears to
have been one of great antiquity.
Virgil (who flourished his grey-goose
I
quill two thousand years ago), thus
' alludes to it in his Georgics :