1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 21 



tion of the atmosphere. We all know how rich and luxuriant is 

 the vegetation in a low and |3rotected valley. Now the richness 

 of tlve soil is not the only reason for the strong contrast with the 

 growth of the windy hill-top. The dewy breath of the vale 

 bathes the foliage with moisture, wliile the dry breezes of the 

 hill cause a constant and excessive evaporation from the leaves. 

 Is it any wonder tliat in the latter case the growth is pinched 

 and dwarfed ? Now, if we want vigor, we must imitate the condi- 

 tions of the dale. The air of our living-rooms is generally too 

 dry for the best development of plants. We waTit to devise 

 waj's by which we can shower the foliage once or twice each day. 

 If we could shut off the bow-window by means of glass doors or 

 even curtains, so as to retain a close moisture for a considerable 

 time, it would greatly invigorate the plants. Every gardener' 

 knows, or ought to know, the benefit of shutting up his green- 

 house early and then showering and steaming his plants under a 

 higli temperature. Just this we should like to do witii our house- 

 plants if we could plan for drainage and to shut off from the 

 living-room. Of course we can do this to perfection, on a small 

 scale, in Wardian cases, and with complete success in the produc- 

 tion of flowers as well as foliage, if we attend to the conditions. 

 Wardian cases have been principally used for the culture of ferns 

 and foliage plants, whicli do not require a full exposure to the 

 sun. But by providing for free ventilation they are admirably 

 adapted for the culture of flowering plants, so that the most difii- 

 cult may be brought to the perfection of bloom even in your 

 parlors. To .obtain the best results for plants which require a 

 uniform and high temperature it may be necessary to provide a 

 slight bottom heat for the case. But this may be done so per- 

 fectly by means of a kerosene lamp, with a chimney leading any 

 smoke or gas into the open air, and at such trifling cost, tiiat it 

 is a plan well worthy of adoption by tliose who wish to cultivate 

 the most delicate exotics to perfection. The plan is simply a 

 house within a house, where the conditions of heat and moisture 

 may be under perfect control. You may in this way so regulate 

 your apparatus as to obtain the higliest possible degree of excel- 

 lence in culture, either in richness and profusion of bloom, or in 

 varied effect in miniature landscape, with sunny side and shade, 

 with rocks and waterfall and lakes and grottoes. But notwith- 

 standing the perfection which may thus be obtained in a limited 

 way, I, for one, should prefer that the plant-room itself should 

 be so well appointed as to secure the full and natural develop- 

 ment of the plants, with fi*ee and open access, so that we may 

 actually sit under the shade of orange trees in full fruit, and find 

 a grateful shelter from the too direct rays of the sun, as I have 

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