REMARKS ON GROWING PLANTS IN GLASS CASES. 133 



ARTICLE VIII. 



REMARKS ON GROWING PLANTS IN GLASS CASES, 



BY CALEDONICUS. 



Observing inquiries have been inserted in some recent Numbers of 

 the Floricultural Cabinet about Ward's glass cases for growing 

 plants in, I am induced to offer some remarks upon them, and addi- 

 tionally to forward an extract on the subject from a paper which was 

 read to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



The form of the case may be varied to suit the taste of the proprie- 

 tor, and to be an ornament to the sitting-room, &c. The following 

 is the detailed process of preparation of soil, &c, as read before the 

 Society, the copy of which I subsequently obtained, and have trans- 

 cribed. 



Preparation of the Soil and Mode of Planting. 



The soil consisted of the following ingredients, which were placed 

 in the box in the order now to be stated. Its bottom was covered 

 with broken potsherds, to the depth of two inches, over which was 

 spread one inch of very turfy loam ; the remaining space in the box 

 was filled with soil, composed of equal parts of peat and loam, with 

 which a portion of rough white sand, amounting to about one-twen- 

 tieth part, and free from iron, was mixed. After being planted, be- 

 tween three and four gallons of water were freely showered over the 

 tops of the plants from a fine-rosed watering pot ; this was continued 

 till the water ran freely from two holes made in the bottom of the box 

 for that purpose. After draining for twenty-four hours, the holes 

 were tightly fitted with corks ; and the glass roof, or cover, was then 

 put on. 



The case, with its plants, was placed at the window allotted for it. 

 The window has a southern aspect, and the morning sun strikes upon 

 it several hours in the day. During this period, the temperature 

 within the case was several degrees higher than that in the room ; 

 while in the absence of sunshine, or when a fire was kept up, the 

 temperature of the room was highest. At other times, when neither 

 sun nor fire prevailed, the temperature within and without the case 

 rose and fell simultaneously. At no period of the winter did the tem- 

 perature in the room fall to the freezing point; nor, it is believed, 

 rise in summer higher than to about 80". No fresh water was given 



