138 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



with half.inch holes in its entire circumference about three inches 

 apart. When the glass cylinder is in place, the half-inch holes are 

 inside the case. The cylinder, of annealed glass, fits neatly into 

 the zinc rim, and is fifteen inches in diameter by fourteen inches 

 in height. Encircling the upper edge of the cylinder is a copper 

 rim, one inch wide, with edge turned downward on the outside, a 

 quarter of an inch wide, to fit on to the cylinder. The flat surface 

 of the rim is perforated with quarter-inch holes, and the inner 

 edge turns up a quarter of an inch, to receive the dome or cover, 

 which is eight inches high and twelve and a half inches in diame- 

 ter. The holes in this copper rim are on the outside, so that when 

 the valve in the bottom of the case is open, the air passes up 

 through the holes round the zinc pan, and out at the copper rim. 

 The whole case when complete stands twenty-nine inches high 

 from the table. 



This case was first exhibited in 1873, and was filled at that time 

 with Onychium Jcqwnicuw, Adianhim cuneatum, A. assimile^ Pani- 

 cum variegatum, SelagineUa Wildenovii, S. stolonifera^ S. 3Iarten- 

 sii, Fittonia Pearcei, F. argyroneura, and Lycopodium denticulatum 

 var. A perforated cocoanut shell, filled with Adiantum assimile^ 

 was suspended from the top, giving completeness to the whole. 

 This case is quite an expensive one, and can never become pop- 

 ular on that account ; but for convenience in the management and 

 culture of plants it has no rival. It received the Society's Silver 

 Medal at the time of the first exhibition. 



Generally, too man}' and too large plants are crowded into the 

 fernery, giving it a heavy and unsightly appearance, and filling the 

 shade completely at the outset, without room for further growth. 

 Draccenas and other plants of this kind make a fine display in the 

 Wardian case, but are certainly out of place under a glass shade. 

 I know it is very diflacult even for those too who are not wanting 

 in taste in other matters to understand this. 



There are very few foliage plants that can be introduced into 

 the fernery. I would recommend only plants of dwarf habit, such 

 as Beineckea carnea var., with grassy foliage, green and white; 

 Panicum variegatum, a very pretty grass, with pink, white, 

 and green foliage ; and a small variety of Bambusa. Cyperus 

 aUernifolius var. is quite pretty when a small plant, but the 

 growth is almost too rapid for a fern case of ordinary size. The 

 foliage is light and graceful and contrasts prettily with ferns. It 

 is a charming plant for the Wardian case. 



