1 6 Wardian Cases. 



WARDIAN CASES. — No. I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

 By James L. Little, Jun., Boston, Mass. 



There are two classes of people in the civilized portion of this globe, 

 that are fond of flowers. The first and by far the largest class comprises 

 those who have an actual love for flowers, and who take an interest in 

 watching the growth and development of the plant, from an inborn taste 

 for such things. Such people, we find, are, in many instances, those of 

 moderate means, and the really poor. The second class comprises those 

 who are fond of flowers to a certain extent. They are pleased with a 

 handsome bouquet ; they admire a finely-shaped plant, or, in short, any 

 plant or flower really showy or attractive to the eye. In many instances 

 (I am sorry to say it), I have seen plants of variegated foliage, or others in 

 full bloom, placed in conspicuous positions in houses, not so much for the 

 love of their great natural beauty, but to give an idea of expense. Such 

 people, who have these faults, may be seen at large horticultural exhibi- 

 tions, going into raptures over fine specimens of greenhouse plants, cala- 

 diums and gloxinias, for instance, or the variegated plants, which are so 

 handsome ; but none of these were intended to be placed in the dry air of 

 our rooms, where so much dust is constantly settling on their leaves and 

 closing the pores, impeding their free circulation. These people belong to 

 the class that are excited, not instructed, by such sights. They rush out and 

 purchase a handsome flower-stand, generally of gigantic dimensions, which 

 in itself is a wonderful piece of cabinet-work ; then it is filled with the most 

 delicate V7aie\.\&s o{ ferns, a few pretty vines, some showy caladiums, ivies 

 sprinkled into every available space : and here is a picture which will need 

 to be restored as badly, in about a fortnight's time, as some of the oil paint- 

 ings that have been in existence hundreds of years. After a few experi- 

 ments of this kind, which are generally paid for very dearly, the flower- 

 stand is either put away in the attic, or converted into a cart by the chil- 

 dren^ or a pond to sail their boats in. Such is the unhappy end of these 

 attempts to keep flowers because your neighbor does, or your window looks 

 bare and unfurnished. On the other hand, how much we learn as we pass 



