182 



WINDOW GARDENING. 



removed to the greenhouse, where it is now flourishing. Two more notable ferns 

 were introduced, namely : Pteris flabellata, var. crispa, a very erect and char- 

 acteristic fern of large growth, quite cheap and common, and one of the best for 

 glass cases, of at least two feet in height within. The other was our fine old 

 hardy friend, Cyrtomium falcatum, which is worth a place anywhere among 

 ferns, and fortunately it will grow anywhere, and is always noble. 



The rest of the plants consisted of various small, yet choice subjects. Pteris 

 scaberula, very beautiful in the lace-like divisions, and light green hue of its 

 fronts. It is really a gem, and always grows well in peat, cocoanut, or any 

 soil of a light spongy texture. 



Doodia lunulata and caudata, are of small growth, and serve well with Loma- 

 ria lanceolata and L. splcant, to fill up green tufts between ferns of very dis- 

 tinct and striking appearance. In the centre of the case, but on the side oppo- 

 site to the view here given, and hence hidden 

 by the Platycerium a plant of Phlebodium 

 sporodocarpum made a fine effect. It is one 

 of the most distinct and beautiful and easily 

 managed of all Wardian Case ferns, but must 

 have always a nice peaty mixture. 



The remaining ferns are Polypodium phego- 

 pteris and rugulosum, Campyloneurum phyl- 

 litidis, Adiantum formosum, pedatum and tenel- 

 lum. 



An important point in all fern cases is to have 

 them so constructed as to be easily turned 

 about and moved around, so that the plants 

 may all share equally in the sunlight. If the 

 case is too large, many plants will receive an 

 undue proportion of the sunlight, while others 

 Pig. 69,-Ladies' Plant Case. will be totally deprived . 



The Germans, who have a greater fondness and taste for Window Gardening 

 than any other nation, have some very tasteful fancies in the way of Ferneries 

 and Rockeries in the windows. 



Fig. 44 will illustrate one of them projecting outward from the side of the house. 

 The arch frame above is also on the outside. Looking at the rockery within rising 

 up out of che aquarium, we find the following plants which do well in the 

 constant evaporation of the water : 



Adiantum tenerum, cuneatum, formosum ; Davallia, pixidata ; Gymno- 

 gramma Peruviana ; Lomaria spicant ; onychicumjaponicum ; Pteris serrulata ; 

 Selaginella calsia ; Selaginella, umbrosa, Africana serpens, and Wildenovii, w ith 

 Acorus gramineus folius fol var ; Sibthorpia Europesa ; Panicum variegatum ; 

 Torrenia Asiatica ; Ficus stipularis ; Tradescantia zebrina ; Hoya bella, and 

 JEschynanthus zebrinus 



