174 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[August 1, 1S66. 



the plants succeed best in a neatly-made wooden 

 box lined with pitch, having a small tap or cock in 

 one corner of the bottom, for letting away any 

 excess of water ; but this will not be necessary if 

 proper attention is observed in supplying the plants 

 with a sufficient amount of water atjone time, which, 

 in consequence of little or no evaporation taking 

 place, will be seldom required. This knowledge 

 can only be gained by practice ; many amateurs' 

 failures with Ward's cases being caused mostly by 

 giving too copious waterings at certain stated in- 

 tervals. 



py$S 



Fig. 1 60. b. 



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a M 



Fig. 160. Woodsia ilvemis. 

 b. Portion enlarged. 



Fig. 161. Ceterach nfficinarum, 

 b. Portion enlarged. 



" The height of the stand must be regulated ac- 

 cording to whether the plants are to be viewed in a 

 sitting or standing position; for the former the 

 ordinary height of a table is a sufficient guide, and 

 for the latter a few inches higher, so that the plants 

 can be seen through the side glass rather than from 

 the top. In preparing the box for the plants, about 

 one inch of its depth should be filled with sand or 

 other drainage material, such as is already explained 



in pot-culture — but in "Ward's cases this is only 

 necessary as a precaution against an over-supply of 

 water, — the rest filled with soil, which should be 

 good fibry peat and silver sand, intermixed with 

 pieces of sandstone broken small, or (if peat cannot 

 be procured) good light loam. Having proceeded 

 so far, two systems of planting the case present 

 themselves. 



" The first plan is to plant in the soil, which should 

 be raised in the centre ; the number of plants will 

 depend on the size of the box, and care must be 

 taken not to plant them in too crowded a manner, 

 the distance apart depending on the size and nature 

 of the plants ; but in no case should they be closer 

 than six inches. The second method is to have the 

 plants established in 4 to 6-inch pots, plunging them 

 in the soil sufficiently deep to hide the rims of the 

 pots. The last system has one decided advantage, 

 namely, should a plant die or does not succeed, it 

 can -be removed and replaced without disturbing 

 its neighbour. 



"It must be understood that the above mode of 

 planting relates to plants with erect vernation only, 



Fig. 162. Parsley Fern (Cryptogramme crispa). 

 b. Portion enlarged. 



but those with creeping rhizomes, that form crespi- 

 tose tufts, require to be planted each on a separately 

 raised hillock, of which, if the case is large, there 

 may be a series, and for the creeping Hymenophylla 

 lumps of porous stone are very suitable; fine 

 patches may be obtained iu this way, not only of 

 Hymenophjlla, but also of other small species. 

 After the ferns are planted, some small-growing 

 Selaginella, such as S. apus, may be pricked in over 

 the surface of the soil, in pieces a few inches apart, 

 which will soon cover it, and give to the whole a 

 neat and finished appearance, and also materially 

 assist in maintaining the proper state of moisture in 

 the air of the case and about the plants. The 

 planting being now completed, the soil must be 

 brought to a uniform state of moisture : this is best 

 accomphshed by two or three moderate waterings 

 at intervals of half an hour, and when thoroughly 

 drained, the case may be closed and placed in 

 position. To make cases, ornamental pieces of 

 marble, shells, &c, are often introduced; but this 

 should not be tolerated, as they do not harmonize 

 with the occupants of such a structure. 



