NEW BOOK FOR THE COUNTRY HOUSE. 



Just Published, in Crown 8vo., witli Illustrations, plain and coloured, 



Price 10s. 6d, 



FOE HOMES OF TASTE, 



And Recreations for Town Folk, in the Study and Imitation of Nature. 

 BY SHIELEY HIBBERD. 



"The work is in itself almost as pleasant an object of contemplation as the things it treats of— John Bull. 



"The work is got up in good style, has many well-executed engravings and coloured plates, and forms 

 a suitable book for the drawing-room table." — Ciril Engineer and Architect's Journal. 



"Nothing could be more seasonable than this elegant book ; it is beautifully illustrated, and, as a present 

 to those whom we love or esteem, we do not know anything more appropriate." — Cottage Gardener. 



"Aquariums, Ward's Cases, Aviaries, Fernery, Bees, kock-work. Garden Scenery, Fountains — in fact 

 everythhig delightful, will be found in this tasteful volume. The matter and manner of the work 

 coincide happily, and each in turn well illustrates the other." — Naturalist. 



"Here is a book which we can honestly and cordially recommend to all lovers of nature, as treating in a 

 simple, pleasant way of the Vivarium, Ward's Cases, Aviary, and other rustic adornments. Mr. IIii)berd's 

 book, let us add, is embellished with remarkable taste." — Leader. 



"An extremely pretty volume, nicely illustrated. The most casual reader will find something to interest 

 and aid him in cultivating his acquaintance with those portions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms which 

 may keep his love of nature alive in the city. It is, indeed, no small privilege to find how much may 

 be done, even in the crowded street, to keep us in communication with a plant, a bird, an inhabitant 

 of the waters or the air. We hold such subjects of observation very precious; and the hook which 

 teaches us how to preserve them is much to be esteemed as a household friend." — Gentleman's Magazine. 



"A more elegant volume for tlie purpose of its publication it is impossible to meet with. In every 

 feature the book is invaluable. Its binding and illustrations are as charming as its contents are 

 interesting." — Bell's Weekly Messenger. 



"It deals with those elegancies which charm the eye, and by the aid of which the humble cottage 

 may be converted into a fairy pcCiace."— Illustrated Times. 



"The coloured engravings with which the volume is embellished are numerous and well executed; in 

 fine, all admirers of the picturesque in rural scenery will find in this work most valuable instruction as 

 to the means by which art may be employed to develop and complete the beauties of nature." — Morning 

 Chronicle. 



"A charming book, elegantly bound and illustrated; the subjects which it embraces are treated with 

 much ability, and are of an excellent practical character; in fact it is a perfect gem."— I'lo7-iciiltural 

 Cahinct. 



PEINCIPAL CONTENTS. 



THE AQUAmUM : — Construction and Furnishing — Fountain Aquarium — Aspect — Forma- 

 tion of Hock-work, Corallines, Caves, Arches, and Beaches — Collecting Specimens for 

 Stock— Notices of Sea-Weeds— General Management of Marino Aquaria— Fresh-water 

 Aquarium — Plants suitable for the Tank — Growth of Ferns in Aquaria— Selection of 

 Fishes for Fresh-water Aquaria — Gold Fish — Amount of life which may be sustained 

 in a tank of twenty-four gallons capacitj' — Winter Management — Feeding — List of 

 Select Plants — List of Ferns for Fresh-water Tanks. 



THE GARDEW AQUAEIUM:— Value of AVatcr Scenery-Plan of a Small Fountain 

 Aquarium — Stocking Garden Aquaria — Fishes — Water Lilies— List of Bog and Aquatic 

 Plants— Construction of Hock-work Banks — Style of Ornaments suited for Water 

 Scenery — Fountains. 



WARDIAN' CASE :— Ornamental Value of the Wardian Case— Its usefulness for the 

 Culture of Choice Plants in Towns — Construction and Design — Window Culture of Ferns — 

 Plants adapted — Culture of Cacti in Close Cases — The Invalid's Plant Case. 



OKNAMENTS EOS, DWELLING BOOMS :-Table Flowers-Preservation of 

 Cut Flowers — Choice of Pots — Miniature Plants— Cacti and Ferns — Illuminated Trees — 

 Transparent Pine Tree — Uses at Fetes and Festivals. 



THE AVIARY: — Construction of a Bird-House — Fitting- up of Aviaries — Uses of Small 

 Conservatories — Aviaries as Garden Ornaments — How to obtain a Cheap Aviary — Inmates 

 of the Aviarv — The Canary, Goldfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Sky- 

 lark, Woodlurk, Nightingale, Robin, &c., &c. — General Management — Food, &c. 



BEES AND BEE-HOUSES : — The Apiary as an Ornament — Rustic Associations — Uses 

 of Suburban Gardens — Pleasures of Bee-keeping — A Code of Bee Management on Humane 

 Principles — Advantages — Hives — General Management, &c., &c. 



THE ROCKERY :— Ornamental uses of Eock-work— Mode of adapting it to the Embel- 

 lishment of a Small Garden — Structure, Materials, and Situation — Rock and Water 

 Scenery — Plants best adapted— Culture of British Wild Plants on raised banks — Culture 

 of Alpines — List of Plants for Rockeries and raised banks. 



FERNERY : — Characteristics of Fern Scenery — Growth of Ferns in Towns — Superior Beauty 

 of Cultivated Ferns — Soil and Composts — Shade and Moisture — Selection of Ferns — 

 Planting — Watering — Winter Protection — Ferns in Pots — General Management of the 

 Fernerj'. 



GARDEN SCENERY AND ORNAMENTS :— Pleasures of a Garden— The Roman 

 GNrdenf — Italian (Janlens — Ornaments near the Dwelling House — Shrubbery and Rustic 

 Btenes — Summer Retreats and Rustic Embellishments — Rustic Bowers — Rustic Furniture 

 -Keats — Gates — Baskets — Arches — Wirework — Vases — Trellis, &c. , &c. 



LONDON: GEOOMBEIDGE AND SONS, 5, PATEENOSTEE EOW, 



