WARDIAN CASKS AND FERNERIES. 41 



sand is best, as it is coarser than the sand generally used, and it is 

 more easil}'^ obtained. I use one-third sand and two-thirds leaf- 

 mould, adding a small quantity of fine charcoal. I add the char- 

 coal to keep the soil light and sweet. Peat is generally recom- 

 mended for cases, but a good quality of peat is difficult to ob- 

 tain, the article usually found being not much better than muck. 

 George Such, of South Amboy, N. J., has the best, but it is not 

 alwaj's easy to obtain it from him. My rule is, to mix the sand, 

 leaf-mould, and charcoal together with water, wetting them thor- 

 oughly, but not so as to cause the mixture to adhere to the hand. 

 When this is done the case is ready to receive the plants. 



This case pleased me best when it was planted in the following 

 manner : Ncplirolepis exaltata, with its long, slender fronds occu- 

 pied the centre, and around it were ranged in order Pteris argyrcjea, 

 Maranta lyulcliella^ and Adiantum colijodes. This last is truly a 

 beautiful plant for the place, its long slender fronds giving it a 

 fairy-like appearance, and imparting grace and beauty to the whole 

 collection. A fine plant of Adiayitum formosum stood opposite A. 

 coljjodes, its fine fronds shooting above those around it, rendering 

 it conspicuous, and contrasting finely with the silver Pteris and 

 the more rigidly exalted Neplirolepis, A good sized plant of Fit- 

 tonia Pearcei, with its fine crimson markings, gave color on one 

 side, while its silver leafed brother, F. argyroneura, was equally 

 efi'ective on the other. Besides these there were Adiantum cunea- 

 tum, also a good plant ; Onychium Japonicum, when well grown, 

 surpassed by few ferns in beauty, and eminently fitted for the place ; 

 Selagindla Wildenovii, one of the best of its kind ; S. stolonifera, 

 also a good case plant; Maranta pidchella^ better than M. zebrina 

 for a medium sized case, being dwarf in its habit, though not so 

 finely marked, but forming a charming contrast to the delicate 

 ferns. This made eleven plants in all — just enough to fill the en- 

 tire case, while every plant showed its own peculiar form and 

 character, and did not appear at all crowded. The tendency is 

 generally to put in too many plants, giving the whole a heavy and 

 unsightly appearance. The majority of people do not consider a 

 case well tilled unless it is crowded, but I think the grace that 

 comes of lightness and individuality is much more attractive. In 

 describing the position of the plants, I forgot to mention the 

 cocoa-nut shell suspended from the top, containing Adiantum setu- 

 losum, giving completeness to the whole. 



