of Rural Art and Taste. 



279 



three times a week, and the soil well watered, 

 it will grow for weeks, and even years, with- 

 out danger from change of temperature. A 

 vase, not necessarily costly, will answer well 

 for Ivy ; and this reminds me of an excellent 

 plan of growing it in vases. Long shoots of 

 the Ivy were procured, with the young and 

 tender aerial roots very abundant. The lower 

 ends were wrapped in moss, and then some 

 five or six of these were lightly tied together 

 at the bottom, and placed in the vase. The 

 latter was filled within a few inches of the top 

 with water, and the ball of moss suspended 

 therein. Thus managed, the roots soon com- 

 mence to grow ; afterwards the moss need not 

 quite reach the water, as the roots will extend 

 down into it, and prove all-sufficient. 



So many very beautiful varieties of Ivy are 

 now in cultivation, that by selecting kinds 

 that will form a decided contrast in shape and 

 color, the effect may be materially heightened. 

 The center of the vase may be filled with cut 

 flowers or grasses, or, indeed, nothing would 

 look better than ferns. The Ivy may be al- 

 lowed to hang down over the sides of the vase 

 in graceful festoons, or else trained over and 

 around the window, thus making a room ap- 

 pear cheerful and pleasant all the winter 

 through. It is not necessary, and in fact I 

 do not believe that Ivy will grow as well in 

 strong light as when it is in a partially shaded 

 position, as it likes shade and an even, cool 

 temperature. I have known instances where 

 Ivy has been grown in large tubs and trained 

 up a staircase, thus forming a mass of green 

 foliage from the hall below to the floor above. 

 Planted in a box, and run over a low trellis, 

 it makes a lovely window screen even in 

 towns ; used in any way, as fancy directs, it is 

 unexcelled as a house plant. — J. H., in The 

 Garden. 



Fern Cases. 



ONE of the most charming modes of adorn- 

 ing the window is by the use of fern cases 

 or ferneries. They consist simply of a basin 

 holding earth, in which are planted the ferns, 

 and the whole surmounted with a large circu- 

 lar glass shade. This subject has been re- 



ferred to by Mr. Williams in "Window Gar- 

 dening " in the following words : 



" The fern case offers to us the very simp- 

 lest of all means of household plant pleasures. 

 Many who cannot afford a greenhouse or con- 

 servatory, or go to the expense of fitting up a 

 plant cabinet, will find an abundant solace in 

 this simple and inexpensive method of growing 

 indoor plants. 



"The uses of these small glass cases for 

 plants are numerous. They occupy very little 

 room, are usually ornamental enough to be 

 placed on any table or parlor stand. When 

 once filled, they need little or no attention for 

 many weeks ; require no unusual care as to 

 watering ; can be readily removed from one 

 room to another ; are not as quickly affected 

 by changes of temperature as plants in the 

 open air of our sitting-rooms. 



" But a more favorable feature in their use 

 is seen when we say that they afford the only 

 successful means for obviating the effect of the 

 dry, heated air of our dwellings. They are 

 reached by no dust, are free from the noxious 

 exhalations of coal-fires or gas-lights ; and 

 when a breath of cold air accidentally enters 

 the room, they are not chilled nor frosted if 

 the thermometer in the room should chance to 

 go below 35 degrees. Their styles are so 

 various and prices so reasonable that any one 

 can be suited at prices of from $3 to $25. 



"To any one living among the anxieties of a 

 troublesome parlor garden which they cannot 

 manage, there are but one or two satisfactory 

 ways left for enjoyment. Either get a fern case 

 or be satisfied with a simple hanging basket." 



M I B III 



Flowers in Sand. — Many pretty little 

 blossoms of bulbs of violets, primroses, and 

 other spring flowers having short stalks, will 

 keep fresh for a long time if each flower be 

 pricked into a saucer or plate of wet sand. 

 The great advantage of the sand over water 

 used in the usual way, is that each bloom 

 remains in its place just where fixed. It is a 

 good idea to keep a flat glass dish filled as 

 stated above, on the side board, and as the 

 flowers decay, remove them, and stick in a 

 few more in their places. 



