92 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



he gives the following account of some of his 

 experiments : 



" I had two large windows facing the south ; but a build- 

 ing obscured the rays of the sun part of the time. In the 

 windows I placed two cases, each forty inches long by 

 eighteen inches wide. The box was six inches deep, with 

 an inner box fitting loosely to receive the soil. An inch 

 moulding fitted around, projecting half an inch above the 

 box, to receive the sash. The sash was on two sides four- 

 teen inches high, the ends solid, and the inside faced with 

 mirrors. You will readily see that I introduced the mirrors 

 to double the effect, and render the whole more beautiful. 

 Upon this sash was a top ten inches high, sloping on the 

 two sides, which fitted to and was kept in place by an inch 

 moulding. This top could be removed to reach the plants, 

 or tilted up a little if ventilation was desired. One of these 

 cases I devoted to native plants, the other to exotics. I 

 made many trips to the woods, and my case of natives was 

 soon in a prosperous condition. I filled it with all sorts of 

 plants that happened in my way, among which I remember 

 the blood-root, hepatica, trailing arbutus, pitcher-plant, lyco- 

 podium, Mitchella repens, Poly podium vulgar e, and Adian- 

 tum pedatum. All these did remarkably well ; but I found, 

 when winter came, that many of them dropped off to sleep, 

 and the curtain fell for the season. 



" Having had such good success with these cases, I thought 

 I would try one on a larger scale. The plan was soon in the 

 hands of the cabinet-maker, and in due time made and set 

 up in its allotted place. This was made very large, for an 

 experimental case. Many of you will remember it, as it was 

 exhibited in this hall, four or five years ago, at the Annual 

 Exhibition. It was nearly four feet square, and stood six 

 feet high from the floor to the top of the roof. The box 



