PARLOR AND WINDOW GARDENING. 249 



distributed gratis and printed instructions given for cul- 

 ture, to encourage the taste. 



There may be, however, a reason for the neglect of 

 their gardens by the mechanics and laboring classes here. 

 There is no question that at the time when the bulk of 

 the work should be done, in the hot summer weather, 

 the laborer has greater need of rest here after his 

 day's work is over than in the cooler climate of Eng- 

 land ; moreover, there is longer daylight in England in 

 summer, all of which, together with greater necessity for 

 thrift, may be the reasons why the English cottager's 

 garden is so much superior to that of the same class 

 in the United States. 



WARDIAN CASES, FERNERIES, ETC. 



The Wardian Case is usually made with black walnut 

 base lined with zinc, in depth about six inches, and about 

 two feet square on the sides ; but it is made of various 

 sizes. The covering is a glass case, made usually 

 eighteen inches high ; the top or lid, also of glass, is 

 ma^e movable, so that ventilation is provided, and 

 undue moisture allowed to escape. The plants grown in 

 Wardian cases are such as are selected for their beauty of 

 foliage rather than for their flowers, plants whose 

 natural habitat is shady woods ; such as Ferns, Lycopo- 

 diums, Dracenas, Caladiums, Marantas, etc., etc. The 

 soil used in such a case may be light peat or leaf -mould ; 

 nothing of a stiff or heavy nature of soil should be 

 used. The case may be kept in any ordinary sitting- 

 room, near the window, but not exposed to the direct 

 sunlight. There is no trouble whatever in management ; 

 one moderate watering when the case is filled will keep 

 it without further attention for six weeks, except an 

 occasional ventilation when moisture lies heavy on the 

 glass. In winter the temperature of the room may run 

 from fifty to sixty degrees at night. The culture of 



