84 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



it is settled around the roots. And to allow evaporation, 

 ventilation should be given for a few days after the water- 

 ing, when the glass may be put down close, only to be 

 opened as before directed, when an excess of moisture 

 shows on the glass. Other than this there is no trouble 

 whatever in the management ; the watering given on 

 planting will be sufficient to keep it moist enough for 6 

 or 8 weeks. In winter the temperature of the room in 

 which the Wardian case or fernery is kept may run from 

 50 to 70 at night. These closed cases of either kind 

 may be used for growing Hyacinths in winter if de- 

 sired, for which they are particularly well adapted ; 

 only, that when brought into the room to flower, the 

 cases will require daily ventilation. After planting the 

 Hyacinths in the cases, however, it must not be forgot- 

 ten that they must be kept in a cool, dark place, until 

 they root, just as when they are grown in pots, or glasses. 

 For further instructions on this head see Hyacinths. 

 Lily of the Valley can also be grown finely in a Wardian 

 case ; but as it requires some special treatment, we give 

 it in a separate chapter. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



WINTER FORCING THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



Within the past three years the fashion for the flowers 

 of Lily of the Valley has increased to such an extent, that 

 though the importation of roots has probably trebled 

 each year, the price of the flower is still quite as high as 

 when the forcing first begun. The failures which attend 

 the winter flowering of this plant are mainly owing to 

 the use of improperly developed roots. As with other 



