WARDIAN CASES, FERNERIES, AND JARDINIERES. 83 



bell-glass which is tilted up a little at the side, when 



there is an appearance of excess of moisture. This con- 



dition of excess is known by the glass becoming dimmed 



by moisture, and the water trickling down the side. 



Usually when this appearance is seen, by raising the glass 



lid of the Wardian Case an 



inch or so for a day, it will 



relieve it enough to enable it 



to be kept close, which is the 



proper way to keep it for the 



well being of the plants. The 



plants grown in this way are 



of kinds valued for their 



beauty of foliage, rather than 



for their flowers, and should 



be such as are rather of a 



slow growth ; all rampant 



growing plants, SUCh as Co- 



leus, are unsuited. The 

 effectiveness of these cases depend a great deal on the 

 arrangement of the plants ; the tallest and most conspic- 

 uous things should be in the center, with smaller ones 

 towards the edges, varying the interest by contrasting the 

 different colorings and forms of leaves. Among the 

 plants best suited for growing under these glass coverings, 

 are Dracaenas, Gymnostachyums, Marantas, Caladiums, 

 some of the ornamental leaved Eranthemurns, and dwarf 

 growing Begonias, Peperomias, etc. , and Ferns and Lyco- 

 pods of the finer sorts. The most of these are plants 

 whose natural habitat is shady woods or marshes ; and 

 for their well being, the nearest that the Wardian Case or 

 Jardiniere can be made to imitate such, the better. 



The soil used in these cases should be light and porous. 

 The most convenient, and a very suitable material, is the 

 leaf-mold, which can be got in any piece of woodland. 

 After planting, the soil should be watered freely, so that 



WTH GLASS 



SHADE. 



