WARDIAN CASES, FERKERIES, AND JARDINIERES. 83 



bell-glass which is tilted up a little at the side, when 

 there is an appearance of excess of moisture. This con- 

 dition of excess is known by the glass becoming dimmed 

 by moisture, and the water trickling down the side. 

 Usually when this appearance is seen, by raising the glass 

 lid of the Wardian Case an 

 inch or so for a day, it will 

 relieve it enough to enable it 

 to be kept close, which is the 

 proper way to keep it for the 

 well being of the plants. The 

 plants grown in this way are 

 of kinds valued for their 

 beauty of foliage, rather than 

 for their flowers, and should 

 be such as are rather of a 

 slow growth ; all rampant 

 growing plants, such as Co- 

 leus, are unsuited. The 

 effectiveness of these cases depend a great deal on the 

 arrangement of the plants ; the tallest and most conspic- 

 uous things should be in the center, with smaller ones 

 towards the edges, varying the interest by contrasting the 

 different colorings and forms of leaves. Among the 

 plants best suited for growing under these glass coverings, 

 are Dracaenas, Gymnostachyums, Marantas, Caladiums, 

 some of the ornamental leaved Eranthemuins, and dwarf 

 growing Begonias, Peperomias, etc., and Ferns and Lyco- 

 pods of the finer sorts. The most of these are plants 

 whose natural habitat is shady woods or marshes ; and 

 for their well being, the nearest that the Wardian Case or 

 Jardiniere can be made to imitate such, the better. 



The soil used in these cases should be light and porous. 

 The most convenient, and a very suitable material, is the 

 leaf-mold, which can be got in any piece of woodland. 

 After planting, the soil should be watered freely, so that 



Fig. — FEKNERY WITH GLASS 

 SHADE. 



