Ferns in Rooms. 263 



BLUE GLASS. — ir. 



By Robert Buist, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Since I addressed you on this subject I have had the pleasure of a 

 visit to the grapery of General Pleasanton, which I had not seen for the 

 past three years. The growth and verdure of the vines were all that is 

 claimed for them. They were a dense mass of wood and foliage. The 

 crop was partly cnt, and the Hamburgs were black, y^?//)/ blacky under 

 the mass of shade. What say those who claim light and sunshine 

 upon their grapes " to color them " ? The stems of many of the vines 

 were nine inches in circumference at twelve or fifteen inches from the 

 ground. The vines have received very simple pruning indeed, merely 

 cut at random the past year or two. The outside borders are elevated, 

 of the very richest nature, and have air pipes through them ; the roots 

 of the vines are all outside. The inside of the wall of the house has 

 lately had a coloring of blue. I give you the growth of the vines and 

 the coloring of the fruit, that your many intelligent readers can judge 

 for themselves ; I make no conclusion. I will, however, during the 

 coming season, put the matter of blue colored glass for the growth of 

 plants fully to the test. 



In regard to its application upon the growth of young animals I must 

 admit want of judgment, saying, however, that the Alderney calf of 

 eighteen months is certainly a great beauty. You gaze upon him, 

 placing his age at two or three years, and fine at that. I measured him 

 around the withers and found him seven feet. Any of your readers 

 who are judges, and have stock of that kind, can apply the line, and 

 make comparisons, and give you the results. It must be admitted that 

 the general is a very generous feeder to all his stock, trees, plants, and 

 vegetable crops, which is perfectly evident, independent of the prismatic 

 influence of blue glass. 



ROSEDALE, August, 1871. 



FERNS IN ROOMS. 



Many ferns may be grown in rooms with perfect success. One of 

 the best of these is Ptei'is tret/nila^ which forms long, delicate, wavy 

 fronds. Pteris cretica albo lincata also grows well ; but the marking 

 is not as well defined as in a green-house. 



Many of the maiden-hairs (^Adlantuni) also succeed. R. 



