THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 205 



near the glass, ia the greenhouse, or the frame be kept rather closer 

 to induce them to start into growth. When they begin to move 

 increase the water supply. From this stage until the fruit is ripe 

 ventilate freely in bright weather, and shut up the house or frame 

 early in the afternoon to utilize the sun-heat as much as practicable. 

 As they grow freely, syringe them once a day, but discontinue the 

 use of the syringe vrhen they are in bloom. The smallest fruit 

 should be removed with a pair of scissors as soon as sufficient i3 

 set, and the syringing resumed immediately afterwards. 



EEITISH FEEXS IX CASES. 



HEX I fitted up myself two large fern-cases for indoors, 

 I did as many other young beginners in fern growing 

 have done, employed several species which require a 

 stove temperature for their successful cultivation ; and 

 a partial failure was the result. I was anxious to grow 

 some of the gold and silver ferns, one or two of the choicer adian- 

 tums and cheilaathes, and need I say no amount of care on my part 

 would induce them to grow satisfactorily. These delicate kinds 

 were intermixed with others in both cases, and in consequence 

 neither had a satisfactory appearance long together. If strong 

 plants were put out early in the summer, and they made a little 

 new growth, they went back as soon as we had a week or so of cold 

 weather, and the winter generally finished them oft". At length I 

 was tired of replenishing those tender kinds, and at last determined 

 to fill one case with the greenhouse sorts which had been found to 

 do well ; and acting upon a hint in the " Eern Garden" — which I 

 am bound to say has been of immense assistance to me — I resolved 

 to fill the other with British species and their varieties. Since then 

 everything has gone on smoothly ; and the latter have done so well 

 that I am really surprised they are not more frequently grown in 

 cases. I hardly know whether to admire the case containing 

 the Britishers, or the exotics, most ; both are so thoroughly beau- 

 tiful. Certainly the former are in no way inferior to the others. I 

 think many amateurs would like to have a case containing repre- 

 sentatives of the British species if they were aware bow beautiful 

 they look, and how easily managed they are. Their hardiness 

 admits of the case being placed in the coldest position in the house, 

 as for example, in a light position in the front hall, or near a lauding 

 window. 



The case in whicb they are put is four feet in length, two feet 

 in width, and thirty inches in depth ; and it therefore ofi'ords 

 sufficient space for a fair assortment. It is quite plain, and the 

 ferns, in my opinion, appear to greater advantage than they do in 

 these highly-ornamented contrivances. The base of the case ia 

 eight inches in depth, and the sides and bottom are formed with 

 boards an inch in thickness, lined with zinc. The bottom is an 

 inch lower in the centre than it is at the two sides, for the purpose 



July. 



