140 WARDIAN CASES FOR PLANTS. 



REMARKS ON WARDIAN CASES FOR PLANTS. 



BY K. C. 



Having read with much interest an article which appeared in the 

 April Number of the Floricux.tukal Cabinet on the growth of 

 plants in Wardian cases, I am induced to send you the results of my 

 own attempts, and to solicit some further information fi'om yourself or 

 your numerous correspondents. 



The case in which my plants are grown is made according to the 

 directions given in the second volume of " Chambers's Information for 

 tiie People." There ought to be a very liberal supply of broken 

 earthenware for drainage, as the success of tlie experiment depends 

 very greatly on this particular. The best situation is, of course, the 

 south, taking care to shade the plants in the summer. Unfortunately 

 I am obliged to be satisfied with an eastern or western aspect, and, 

 consequently, lose the benefit of the sun in the winter months. How- 

 ever, I have got on pretty well notwithstanding. 

 . I find all the hard-wooded and thick-leaved kinds of hothouse plants 

 to flourish by far the best. The Hoj-a Carnosa grows most vigor- 

 ously ; so do the Franciscaeas, Gardenias, Cypripediams, Cactus, Myrtle 

 Orange, Pergalaria ordontissima, &c. I am making another attempt 

 with some Tropical Ferns, but I have found them invariably to damp 

 off; and yet this class of plants is particularly recommended for the 

 above mode of culture. Perliaps you woidd ha\e the kindness to 

 suggest some manner of treatment which will obviate this casualty. 



I should also feel obliged, through the medium of yourself or friends, 

 for a list of plants wliich liave l)een most advantageously grown in this 

 manner, as well as of a few of the smaller-sized Orchideaj which would 

 be likely to answer. I know of no method of cultivating plants in a 

 room so interesting and so free from trouble as this ; and I am certain 

 that many lovers of floriculture will be greatly obliged by any com- 

 nuniications you maj' be pleased to make respecting the best arrange- 

 ment and ti-eatment of this cheap and portable conservator}-. 



THE RUNNING OF CARNATIONS. 



BT FLORISTA. 



This subject lias caused more discussion than almost any other con- 

 nected with gardening, except the breaking of Tulips. Before this 

 subject is fully discussed, the facts should be fairly considered ; and 

 those which are well establisiied are curious. First, not only do the 

 .several layers of the same plant come one run and another good, but 

 on the same plant one will come fine and the other coarse, although 

 within half an inch of each otiier on the same stem. Xay, more, the 

 same flower will come half run and half fine. One would think this 

 settled the question about tlie soil having nothing to do M'ith it. 

 Secondly, run flowers planted out (which, if they are scarce, they 

 should always be) will occasionally return back to the fine condition, 

 as completely as the Tulip will break from the breeder, althougli 

 grown in the same description of soil. This seems another proof that 



