THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE ! 



SEPTEMBER, 1839. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Description of a Plant Case, or Portable Conservatory, for 

 growing Plants •without fresh Supplies of Water and Air, according 

 to the Method of N. B. Ward, Esq. ; with Physiological Remarks. 

 By Daniel Ellis, F.R.S.E. 



(Read to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, June 13. 1839.) 



To the Editor of the " Gardener's Magazine." 

 Sir, 

 In compliance with your request, I now send you an account of 

 the experiment made here of the mode of growing plants in close 

 glass cases, as practised by Mr. Ward. The delay in answering 

 your letter has arisen from the desire of continuing the experi- 

 ment to the end of the year. The paper, as you will see, was 

 read to the Edinburgh Botanical Society a few weeks ago, nearly 

 in the state it is now communicated to you. It is accompanied 

 by a copy of the design of Mr. M'Nab for a glass case, which, 

 as forming a piece of ornamental furniture, has been much ap- 

 proved. To this account I have appended some physiological 

 remarks, being an attempt to explain " the appearances on sci- 

 entific principles," which, in your opinion, has not yet been 

 satisfactorily done. I am, Sir, very truly yours, 



Edinburgh^ June 29. 1839. Daniel Ellis. 



1. Construction of the Plant Case. 



The plant case, or portable conservatory, which I am about 

 to describe, was constructed somewhat more than a year ago, 

 under the immediate direction of Mr. James M'Nab, super- 

 intendant of the Caledonian Horticultural Society's garden. 

 Mr. M'Nab had repeatedly visited the collection of Mr. Ward, 

 at his house in Wellclose Square, London, and expressed so 

 much admiration of the success of his plan, that I became de- 

 sirous of getting a case made, more especially as Mr. M'Nab 

 kindly offered to give the design for its construction, and super- 

 intend its execution. From the first, it was my wish to consider 



Vol. XV. —No. 114. k k 



