FERN-CASES. 



lOI 



fit the screw collar of the bulb : then all of the 

 burner must be cut away except its ring or tube 

 carrying the thread of the screw which fits the 

 bulb-collar. Now solder this remaining portion 

 of the burner to an opening made in the bottom 

 of the fern-pan, so that the tube with its thread 

 projects below. To this the bulb can then be 

 screwed, and will serve as a reservoir for the 

 drainage of the pan. Exactly such an arrange- 

 ment may be found on a German student-lamp to 

 catch the drip of oil from its wick-holder. The 

 bottom of the pan should be sloped, or indented 

 with grooves, to direct the flow of water towards 

 the opening to which the bulb is fastened. If 

 such drainage cannot be arranged, and it is sus- 

 pected that the fern-case is suffering from too 

 much water, and that the drainage-material in the 

 bottom of the pan is filled up, a hole can be 

 pierced in the bottom, near one corner, and some 

 vessel placed or hung permanently underneath to 

 receive surplus water ; and, if now the case be so 

 tilted that the water will run toward the opening, 

 all excess will soon be drained away. In filling 

 the case or pan, it will be found that fragments, 

 the size of a half-dollar and smaller, of broken 

 flower-pots or similar material, will be best for 

 drainage-purposes. There should be enough of 

 them to cover the bottom at least two inches 

 deep ; and to prevent the earth with which the 



