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ON GROWING PLANTS IN WARD'S CASES. 



""WARD'S CASES"— THE BEST MODE OF GROWING PLANTS IN ROOMS. 



BY DR. WM. W. VALK, FI-U.SHING, L. I. 



In our communication for the Horticulturist 

 for January, the growing of plants, in what 

 are called " Ward''s Cases,'''' was alluded to 

 in terms of approval, and the remark fol- 

 lowed, that " for the cultivation of plants in 

 the parlor and drawing-room, these cases 

 are admirably adapted ; and if made with 

 taste, as they should be for such uses, and 

 filled with carefully selected specimens, 

 they would soon become fashionable and 

 very much sought after." Your corres- 

 pondent, E. G., of Bridgewater, Mass., has, 

 in the note you have sent me, been pleased 

 to notice our remarks with interest, and, 

 writing you on the subject, desires to know 

 how the cases are constructed ? What kind 

 of plants may be most successfully grown 

 in them? Will the plants bloom as freely 

 in the cases as out of them? And whether 

 or not a door is necessary, "so that some of 

 the pots may be exchanged from time to 

 time, to give variety ?" 



With great pleasure we now reply to 

 these queries, and shall give your readers 

 all the knowledge we have, both acquired 

 from the experience of others and the re- 

 sults of our oAvn. How are the cases con- 

 structed ? We may best answer this in a 

 comprehensive waj'' by saying — have them 

 made of any size and pattern you please, 

 plain or ornamental, of wood, brass, iron, 

 zinc, or bronze. There is no rule to go by; 

 the owner is to consult his fancy, and keep 

 in view the position he intends the cases to 

 occupy. But we must be more specific to 

 be better understood, and give a brief de- 

 scription of the case we have, and a draw- 

 ing of one also. Our case is made of black 

 walnut ; it is four feet long, two and a half 

 feet wide, and three feet in height to the 



top of the roof. It is perfectly plain, and 

 as light as possible, consistent with the re- 

 quisite strength. The bottom of the case is 

 in the form of a box six inches deep ; at 

 each corner an upright piece is framed in,^ 

 and between these, other pieces like the 

 sash of a window. The roof is made in the 

 same manner, with a ridge piece, and a 

 double pitch of about twenty-five degrees. 

 For putting in or taking out the plants, our 

 roof lifts off" entirely, having a pin and sock- 

 et at the four corners ; but it is just as con- 

 venient to place a door Avhere it is wanted 

 when the case is made. The bottom and 

 sides of our case are lined with zinc ; and 

 there are eight holes in it to allow superflu- 

 ous water to drain off. It stands on brass 

 castors; but it would have been better to 

 have had it made with legs, sufficiently 

 long to bring the case up to the bottom, or 

 sill of the window : our case stands on a 

 table. The glass used is clear and strong, 

 and puttied on the inside. From this de- 

 scription, a case just like ours maybe easily 

 constructed ; but in order to make the mat- 

 ter as plain as possible, we give a drawing 

 of it, Fig. 50. If a more elegant and orna- 

 mental structure is desired, the pattern, Fig. 

 51, is just the thing. This, executed in 

 bronze or gilt copper, would be beautiful ; 

 and the glass used should be " plate glass" 

 in single pieces for the sides, ends, and the 

 top. Varying the shape and style to suit 

 the taste of the parties who have one or 

 more ^'■Ward^s Cases^' made, they can be 

 large or small, plain or elaborately elegant, 

 as they may desire. For putting in or 

 taking out the plants, a door must be made 

 where most convenient, and sufficiently 

 large to do so with the most perfect facility. 



