295 



THE WARDIAN CASE. 



(Continued.) 



The fourth point means the provision of adequate space 

 at the outset and the removal of some of the plants if 

 they grow too large and shoulder their neighbours too 

 roughly. A crowd of foliage is a mistake ; all grace and 

 detail is lost, to say nothing of the weakness engendered 

 by the consequent struggle for light and room. This must 

 be borne in mind when first planting, as it is much better 

 to have the case a little bare for a time and then filled up 

 on healthy lines than to find immediately the plants start 

 growth that they overlap and handicap each other. 



In planting there is, of course, room for wide diversity 

 of taste, and much depends upon the space and shape 

 of the case or other receptacle. A very handsome effect 

 may be produced by one bold specimen fern in the centre 

 of the background, so as to allow its fronds to arch over 

 freely to the front, the soil or rockery in miniature being 

 dotted with dwarf varieties or Selaginellas of the small 

 persuasion. So far we have treated of the Wardian case 

 on the original Wardian lines, i.e. as maintaining a con- 

 stantly humid atmosphere. It subserves, however, another 

 purpose — protection from dust and aerial impurities — and 

 hence in sunny windows or exposures, and with a greater 

 provision of air, it may be used to advantage for collections 

 of dwarf Cacti and other drought-loving plants, these 

 being either planted in dry rockeries or inserted in the soil, 

 pot and all, the pots being masked by pieces of stone. A 

 minimum of water and a maximum of light are the two 

 desiderata with plants of this class, while in the winter 

 they must be guarded from frost. 



Chas. T. Druery, F.L.S., V.M.H. 



