Culture of Plants in Glass Cases. 207 



scarce here. Over this is a stratum of sandy peat, 16 in. or 

 18 in. deep. The sorts planted were, Erica ignescens, cruenta, 

 coccinea, Bowledna, hybrida, caffra, vestita, cerinthoides, Pe- 

 tiveridna, mammosa, PatersomVma, cyllndrica, Eweridna, vil- 

 16sa, longifldra, longifolia, Bletm [? bella], verticillata, veritri- 

 c6sa, and some others. During summer, the plants require 

 frequent watering, all possible air on temperate days, and 

 shading on scorching sunny ones. The shading may be effected 

 by a mat; and the ventilation by tilting up the glass at the 

 ends, so as to produce a thorough current of air. In winter, 

 the same attention to air is necessary, but no water should be 

 given : the plants should be screened from rains ; and, of course, 

 covered up, should severe frosts occur. In Ireland, however, we 

 rarely have frosts to a degree which requires more protection 

 than the glass will afford (p. 62.) ; and I am persuaded that a 

 number of the Cape ericas are sufficiently hardy to stand our 

 winters in the open air. Some have with me, and I have planted 

 out others on trial ; but this they cannot be said to have had, 

 since, for these three years back, we have had no frost that would 

 destroy a pelargonium. I have little doubt of ericas succeeding 

 on the sea-coast, which is of a still milder temperament. The 

 situation that the frame was unavoidably placed in has not had 

 an hour's sun during the winter, yet not one plant has damped off. 

 Kilkenny, Jan. 6. 1834. J. Robertson. 



Art. VIII. On grotving Ferns and other Plants in Glass Cases, in the 

 midst of the Smoke of London ; and on transplanting Plants from 

 one Country to another, by similar Means. By N. B. Ward, Esq. 

 F.L.S. 



I was accidentally led, about four or five years ago, to make 

 some experiments on the growth of ferns, &c, in closely glazed 

 vessels, from the following circumstance. I had buried the 

 chrysalis of a sphinx in some moist mould in a large bottle 

 covered with a lid. The insect attained its perfect form in about 

 a month, when I observed one or two minute specks of vegeta- 

 tion upon the surface of the mould. Curious to observe the 

 developement of plants in so confined a situation, I placed the 

 bottle outside one of my windows with a northern aspect. The 

 plants proved to be one of Poa annua, and one of Nephrodium 

 [Aspidium Swz.~\ Pilix-mas. In this situation they lived for more 

 than three years, during which time no fresh water was given to 

 them, nor was the lid removed. The fern produced four or five 

 new fronds every year ; and the Poa flowered the second year, 

 but did not ripen its seeds. Both plants ultimately perished, 

 from the admission of rain water, in consequence of the rusting 



