238 THE WARDIAN CASE. 



ferns, but not for flowering plants, as the atmosphere 

 is too close. Unless the pan is porous, proper drainage 

 must be secured, and water must be sparingly given, 

 as it can only, if in too great a quantity, be got rid 

 of by evaporation, during which process the plant may 

 be injured. The ferns best adapted to these cases are 

 those that love shade, moisture, and a close air, but 

 even with these a little ventilation should be given to 

 prevent damping off. 



A flower pot, with a rim to receive a hand-glass, 

 makes a nice little Wardian case : these could be 

 obtained at any potter's, could be made shallow, and 



are inexpensive. The common Florence flasks, in which 

 salad oil is imported, make very pretty little cases for 

 the culture of delicate forms of vegetation. A good 

 way is, to suspend a row of them along a shady window ; 

 in some, grow terrestrial plants, in others, delicate water 



