The Fernery at the Fireside. 51 



opposite side some mischief may be done. The case 

 figured on p. 50 may be taken to pieces in a few seconds, 

 as each sheet of glass is fitted in a separate frame, and 

 all the frames drop into grooves and are braced together 

 at the corners by means of small hooks and eyes. The 

 patent cases made by Gray of Danvers Street, Chelsea, 

 are of this make, and they have the additional advantage 

 of a boiler to afford warmth from below; this boiler 

 requires to be filled only once or twice a day in winter 

 according to the severity of the weather. Ventilation 

 is easily effected without causing a draught by simply 

 tilting up the top glass. 



It is a great convenience if a fern case can be 

 moved about without difficulty, and it is astonishing 

 what may be accomplished in this respect by the exer- 

 cise of forethought. For example, if you buy one of 

 Gray's cases it will be supplied on a miserable set of 

 legs with wooden castors, and even if a small one it 

 will be difficult to move it. But if you follow our plan 

 the difficulty vanishes, and you may take your fern cases 

 with you on your travels, or at all events wheel them from 

 room to room with a mere touch. The legs sent with 

 the case are converted into firewood, and the case is 

 put on a strong framework made by our own carpenter, 

 of which the annexed figure affords an accurate repre- 

 sentation, save and excepting one particular. 



The frame figured is one on which stands a case 

 measuring three feet long, two feet high, and eighteen 

 inches wide. The frame consists of a skirting-board, A, 

 with neatly-moulded top edge, six inches in depth, 

 mounted on four neat but strong legs, which are fitted 



