THE GENESEE FARMER. 



349 



PLANT 



Plant Oases have become quite common in Eng- 1 

 and, and we give an engraving of a very prettily- 

 ihaped one, taken from the London Journal of 

 Eorticulture. It is heated by hot water, the tank 

 s a zinc drawer, and the heating apparatus a jet 

 )f gas or a spirit lamp. In these, ahnost all varieties 

 )f plants may he grown, and ladies who are inter- 

 ested in horticulture use them for propagating any- 

 thing that tliey wish to have in their gardens, 

 ^.rranged with taste, they are exceedingly orna- 

 mental. "E. A. M.," the interesting correspondent 

 jf the London Oardeners' Chronicle gives most 

 rascinating accounts of the beauty of her plant 

 3ase, and one would think from her letters that 

 there was nothing easier tliKn having such a mimic 

 Bonservatory in every parlor. It would be almost 

 discouraging to look at such pictures as this and read 

 5uch letters as " E. A. M." writes, as it is very diffi- 

 cult to get anything of the kind in this country — 

 were it not for the pretty little fern cases which 

 are within the reach of all. They require no care, 



CASE. 



and still greet the eye all winter with the loveliest 

 mass of fresh, living green. 



Their construction is very simple. A bell-glass, 

 about twelve inches in diameter at the ba'^e and 

 eiijhteen inches high, a h)W wooden standard a 

 trifle larger than the base of the glass and two or 

 three inches in higlit, and a shallow tin pan just 

 large enough for the glass to fit closely on it. In 

 this pan moist, ricli earth should be placed, and 

 then the mosses, ferns, &c., planted. After tlie glass 

 is put over them, it need not be removed except 

 occasion.'illy to check the too InxiiriMnt growth. 

 Of conr.^e, small, delicate ferns should be selected, 

 and when it is jiossible it is best to go to a good 

 gardener to have the case filled, if you have no ex- 

 jierience your.ielf in arranging them. We saw one 

 that li.ad not been touched for a year, and it looked 

 in quite good order. A splendid hegoniarex added 

 very much to its beauty. Still the cases are fully 

 as heantifiil with ferns and mosses alone. In very 

 Itriuht. warm days they need a little shading. The 

 glass should be as clear and thin as possible. Any 

 of the crockery merchants have them in a variety 

 of sizes and shapes. The size which we have 

 mentioned is a good one, but both smaller and 

 larger are used. 



