FERN CULTURE UNDER GLASSES III 



moss. No better environment for forcing 

 the development of leaf buds or apple blos- 

 soms could be found, and the experiment 

 is worth while, for heralds of the coming 

 spring are always pleasant. 



The Wardian case may be called the 

 memorial to Mr. Ward's discovery of the 

 principles upon which successful fern culture 

 depends when under adverse circumstances. 

 This very excellent idea, however, was not 

 carried to perfection; for insufficient ventila- 

 tion, lack of proper drainage and construc- 

 tion, which render filling difficult, may be 

 counted among the defects of the original 

 model. Efforts to obviate the defects have been 

 made with varying success. A near approach 

 to the ideal is here illustrated (Plate 31). 



The dimensions must be regulated to fit 

 the space which the case is to fill. Extreme 

 measurements taken from the base of the 

 lower moulding of the model before us are 

 25 x 20 x 1 7 inches ; the two long panels, 24 

 x 16 inches, with ends 16 x 16 inches. 



The picture-frame order of architecture is 



