which are the aquatic plants, fishes, raollusks, and insects, is about twelve inches 

 in diameter, and about nine inches deep ; near the top in the inside is a flange, 

 with a groove, into which runs the 

 condensed water from the bell- 

 glass, which forms the Wardian 

 Case for the ferns, lycopods, &c. ; 

 from this groove it descends to the 

 tank below. Into the centre of 

 this vessel I put the glass pedestal. 

 I then cover the bottom with about 

 two and a half inches of fresh, but 

 not very rich, soil, in which I plant 

 my aquatics ; I use for this pur- 

 pose, Valisneria spiralis, Apono- 

 geton distachyon, Nymphcea odo- 

 rata minor, and N. macrantha. 

 On the soil I put one inch of well- 

 washed flints, or sea gravel, which 

 prevents the insects, or mollusks, 

 from making the water foul. I 

 then introduce the water through 

 a fine rose, to about four or five 

 inches deep, into which I put gold 

 fish (small), or sticklebacks, or any 

 other small fish, mollucks, Succinea 

 putris, Planorbis corneus, carina- 

 tus, and marginalis, Cyclas rivicola, 

 and cornea ; insects — any species 

 of colymbetes, hygrotes, hadaticus, 

 gyrinus, and several other aquatic 

 genera; care must be taken not to 

 introduce any of the large carnivo- 

 rous larvEe. I then prepare for 

 introducing the plants proper for 

 a small Wardian Case. I put the 

 soil into a blue glass dish, with a 

 rim at the bottom to keep it steady 

 on the pedestal ; this dish is one 

 and a half inch deep by seven in 

 diameter, the soil is raised in the 

 centre about two inches ; in this 

 I plant the tallest ferns or lycopods, and the smaller round the edge of the dish. 

 The ferns I ])lant are Adiantum capillus veneris, Lastraja dilatata Schofieldi, a 

 beautiful small Yorkshire variety ; Asplenium viride and trichomanes ; Asplenium 

 fontanum, &c. ; Ijycopods Wildenovi, umbrosum, stolonifcrum, mutabile, densum, 

 and lepidophyllum. When planted, I cover the soil, in imitation of rockwork, 

 with agates and pebbles of any sort. I then give the whole a good watering 

 before placing the dish on the pedestal ; the whole is then covered with the bell- 

 glass. One before me at the present time has been standing in a window eight 

 months ; the water has never been changed, or any addition made, except a small 

 tity once given to the ferns, &c., in the dish. Should the water becon 

 , in the summer, a small piece of gutta percha pipe, with a small rose 



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