CHAPTER VIII 



FERN CULTURE UNDER BELL GLASSES AND 

 IN THE WARDIAN CASE 



THE pernicious atmosphere of some of our 

 modern homes, induced by dry furnace heat 

 and gas, is not conducive to luxuriant growth, 

 or even to the existence of ferns in general. 



Fortunately atmospheric effects of this 

 sort are practically if not wholly overcome by 

 the moisture engendered by the confinement 

 of plant life under glass. It is interesting 

 to note the evolution of an idea originating 

 from the accidental discovery of a tiny fern 

 growing spontaneously in a wide-mouthed 

 bottle containing leaf mould to the ideal 

 fern case which offers the necessary condi- 

 tions for the successful growth of ferns under 

 glass in an otherwise unfavourable location. 



An atmosphere free from soot and injuri- 

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