MONTHLY CALENDAB. 383 



the Britisli ferns, and a vast number of exotic ones are also suitable. Lycopo- 

 diums may be allowed to trail over the surface of the soil, Pteris arguta 

 makes a good centre plant for a tall case ; also Adiantum pedatum, one of the 

 most graceful of ferns, but dies down every winter. The Aspleniums offer 

 an extensive and numerous family to choose from, particularly A. viviperum, 

 bulbiferum, paniculatum, and others, producing young ferns on the old leaves, 

 and root in the air. The Scolopendriums are also suitable, and show well 

 their broad shining leaves or fronds. Both the planting and management of 

 these cases must depend a great deal on the situation or locality. In a dry 

 warm room many femt* that are considered very tender may be grown 

 successfully ; but they will require more water, which should be warm when 

 given, and less ventilation ; for the dry air of a warm room, ill suited to most 

 plants, is far more injurious to ferns ; and some of them naturally come from 

 warm humid climates ; they must therefore be carefully treated in this respect. 

 If an opening at each end were made, and this covered with fine wire gauze, 

 it would admit air without any of its ill consequences. Plant-cases for window- 

 gardening have been greatly improved of late. One — the invention of an 

 invalid lady — is ingeniously contrived so as to hold hot water. A cistern 

 beneath this, being replenished once in twenty-four hours, maintains a soft 

 genial heat, so that many stove-plants can be thus grown and displayed to 

 advantage. The zinc trough at bottom is filled with sand and charcoal, in 

 which the pots are plunged. This being kept moist, diffuses a soft dewy 

 atmosphere in the body of the case, which is in form a double cube. They 

 are made by Pickai-d and Co., King's Cross, London. 



1 121. Pansies, or Heartsease, may be cultivated in pots : they are often raised 

 from seed, which may be sown at any time from March to October, carefully 

 repotting the young plants as they advance. They are also raised from cuttings 

 or offsets, which strike readily. Pansies flower at almost any time of the year 

 if kept growing, and are very ornamental, and vary considerably in colour : 

 soil, gritty loam. 



1 122. Cinerarias ore very ornamental while in bloom, and may be raised 

 either from offsets or from seeds : if the latter, sow in July and August, in 

 loam and leaf-mould, well sanded ; prick off into small pots, and repot as they 

 advance ; in winter, protect from frost by means of mats or litter. They will 

 flower in April, May, and June, and often later. If grown from offsets, take 

 them off in September, and pot singly in 3-inch pots ; otherwise treat as 

 before. These like frame-culture, if protected from frost : in mild weather, a 

 slight wetting of the leaves will be beneficial. The seed is not difiicult to save, 

 or may be procured at any respectable nursery. Plants raised from seed are 

 sure to flower and look neat; but good sorts should be increased, or per- 

 petuated by means of offsets. 



1 123. Arums are very ornamental as window-plants, on account of their fine 

 foliage, as well as the large and singular flowers : they grow in loam, and 

 require plenty of water. They flower in March, April, and May; after 

 which they die down partially, and may be put aside in the shade till 



