THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1894. 



139 



some of the more robust ones will do 

 well altogether out of doors in the shade. 

 But if you put any of the more delicate 

 ones out, let it be in a position where 

 they will be protected from winds and 

 beating rains. We think it best to keep 

 them in a room where the windows can 

 be closed in case of storms, for the wind 

 breaks the delicate fronds, the rain 

 beats them down, and night prowling 

 cats are very destructive. Besides, in 

 the house it is much easier to guard 

 them against the ravages of grasshop- 

 pers, caterpillars, bugs and other ene- 

 mies. Do not sprinkle the fronds every 

 time you give the plants water, but only 

 often enough to keep them clean and 

 free from dust. It would also be a 

 good plan to have a post at each corner 

 of your fern stand, or some other ar- 

 rangement by which the plants could 

 be covered with a light sheet while 

 sweeping and dusting the room. 



Now, having given a sketch of the 

 general culture of ferns in the house, 

 we will defer the particular treatment 

 applicable to individuals until we come 

 to describe the varieties that recommend 

 themselves to our care. 



{To he contiuKed.) 



A PRACTICAL FERNERY. 



For the benefit of lovers of ferns we 

 reprint the following article written by 

 us for American Gardening : 



"Those who have had experience 

 with the glass shade fernery or War- 

 dian case, have found that they give 

 very little or no satisfaction. The his- 

 tory of the \^'ardian case dates back to 

 1829, when a gentleman by the name 

 of Ward, of London, first noticed, ac- 

 cidentally, the growth of vegetation 

 under a closed glass. He had placed 

 the chrysalis of an insect, with some 



mould, in a glass bottle and covered it 

 over. A short time afterward, as he 

 described it, a speck or two of vege- 

 tation appeared on the surface of the 

 mould, and to his surprise turned out 

 to be a fern and a grass. His interest 

 was awakened ; he placed the bottle in 

 a favorable situation and found that 

 the plants continued to grow and main- 

 tain a healthy appearance. 



"The first use of the Wardian case 

 was to preserve plants for the scientist 

 for a short time in good condition. It 

 was very good for that purpose. But 

 when it comes to practical use for the 

 amateur who wishes to see the various 

 ferns and ornamental foliaged plants 

 put forth their beautiful leaves, it is a 

 failure. He will do well if he pre- 

 serves the old leaves the plants already 

 have when introduced into the case ; 

 the new growth will be slender and 

 sickly looking. But even .supposing 

 the plants are in a fair condition, they 

 are concealed under the sweating glass 

 shade, like goldfish in a globe of muddy 

 water. It is but half the pleasure of 

 growing plants when one cannot work 

 around them, pick away a leaf here 

 and there, and train them in a desired 

 direction. All this is prevented when 

 yourjilants are in a closed case, whether 

 it is round or square. 



" In constructing a practical fern 

 case we were guided by the following 

 points : — 1. Plants, with few excep- 

 tions, must be protected against sud- 

 den changes of temperature, draught, 

 dust and too dry an atmosphere. 2. 

 They must be supplied with fresh air ; 

 a suitable temperature, moisture both 

 to their roots and over their foliage, 

 and light. 



"All these points are obtained in our 

 case, which is constructed as follows : 



"An oblong wooden frame or box is 



