WINDOW GARDENING. ;[g5 



often behold; and yet a glance at illustration No. 48, will show how pleasing such 

 a decoration might be, and how simply it could be made. This design is con- 

 structed of wood, in the form of a hexagonal pillir, with vase at the top. 



At various places in each side are little niches or openings, into which are in- 

 troduced the fern shells; these are filled with earth, usually holding a pint to a 

 quart, and the fern grows gracefully outward. This pillar holds 19 vessels, and 

 affords a rare opportunity of cultivating quite a variety. If the centre of the 

 pillar is hollow it must be filled up by hand with some earthy material, and 

 either moss or cocoanut fibre or dust may be pressed firmly. The soil for the 

 bricks should be peat two parts; loam or woods mould one part, silver sand one 

 part. 



An English lady, filling such a case, once adopted this selection of plants. As 

 mentioned in the Gardener's Magazine, " In the vase at the top were some plants 

 of the Asplenium flabellifolium, one of the most elegant of ali the small trailing 

 ferns. To help out the effect of this; a tuft of the pretty rush Isolepis gracilis 

 is introduced. This falls over in most graceful glass-like outlines, and as it loves 

 moistureit is quite at home under a bell glass. In the shells at the sides of the 

 column are specimens of Adiantmn eapillus veneris, A. hispidulums, and A. 

 cuneatum, the last of which may grow too large; if so, it should be removed. 

 One of the most suitable of all ferns is Woodsia Ilvensis, which grows marvel- 

 ously, and seems to be at home in the porous ware of the vessel. Other good 

 ferns are Asplenium fontanum, A. rufamraria, Doodia lunulata, Doodia cau- 

 data, Woodsia obtusa, Cy stopfer is fr agile Dickeana, Camptozaurus,rhizop}iyllus, 

 (one of the rarest of the exotic Hearts Tongue ferns,) Scolopendrium vulgare, 

 V. proUferum vamo marginatum, and v. polyschides, Lastrea filix-mas v. Schofiel- 

 dii, Adiantum Setulosum, Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Athyrium f.f. diffissum. 



These are the cheapest of all designs for the window. Fig. 59 and 60 being 

 obtainable at almost any glass store, at prices of $'2.00 to f 5.00 complete. Figs. 

 61 and 62, are in a basket vase. Figs. 63 and 64 are with pottery ware or lava 

 boxes, resting upon stands. Fig. 65, is made of rustic wood and has a wooden 

 bowl, upon which the glass cylinder rests. Fig. 66 is an iron stand, with a plain 

 earthen bowl beneath the fernery, the outside of which is decorated with a net- 

 work of wire. 



Among the various designs of Wardian Cases, for the drawing-room or saloon, 

 there are often met a few of much simpler material, which can be used for other 

 purposes. Figs. 67 and 68 are so constructed that they can be used at one time 

 for growing ferns within, or they can be used merely for holding cut flowers in 

 moist sand or water. In Fig. 68, the top is movable, fitting into a brass groove, 

 and must be lifted entirely off the table when the plants are to be placed inside 

 or need anj-- attention. All the ornamental work around the edges of the stand, 

 and the frame work for holding the glass plates, is made of brass ; the stand 

 itself is of wood. The size of the interior is about 18 inches in diameter, by 12 

 inches high. 



