xxu 
European Ferns. 
observed that the moisture, which during the heat of the day arose from the mould, became 
condensed on the internal surface of the glass, and returned whence it came, thus keeping 
the mould always in the same degree of humidity. About a week prior to the final change 
of the insect, a seedling fern and a grass made their appearance on the surface of the mould. 
I could not but be struck with the circumstance of one of that very tribe of plants, which 
I had for years fruitlessly attempted to cultivate, coming up sponte slid in suc'a a situation ; 
and asked myself seriously' what were the conditions necessary for its growth. To this the 
answer was — firstly, an atmosphere free from soot ; secondly, light ; thirdly, heat ; fourthly, 
moisture ; and lastly, change of air.” These conditions, with a little management, were found 
to be supplied by an adaptation of the simple bottle ; and from this the Wardian case, which 
has proved so important an adjunct to the transferring of plants from one country to another. 
Filmy Ferns, as the various species of T richo manes, Hymenophyllum, and Leptopteris are 
called, require to be grown in a case by themselves, as their delicate, membranous, and pellucid 
fronds quickly suffer from the amount of air which is necessary for the well-being of a mixed 
collection of other kinds. The size of case, height of stand, and all such minor details, must 
be decided upon by the amateur, as so much will depend upon the situation it is to occupy, 
and the individual taste. The operation of filling the box should be performed in a manner 
exactly similar to that already recommended for potting ; first a layer of drainage, to the 
depth of about an inch, should be placed over the bottom, to be covered with some rough 
turfy peat, or what is better, where procurable, a thin layer of living Sphagnum or bog-moss, 
which does not rot like other mosses ; above this put the soil, which should be composed of 
peat, loam, broken sandstone, and sharp sand, in about equal parts : blocks of limestone and 
sandstone, in sizes proportionate to the case, should be partially imbedded in the soil, which 
will serve to diversify the surface, and at the same time afford suitable positions for those 
species with creeping surface rhizomes. 
After the soil is placed in the box the planting must commence. Limestone-loving ferns 
must be duly studied, and also those with surface rhizomes, whilst Sclaginella helvetica will 
form a green and dwarf covering to the whole groundwork ; but above all things avoid the 
too prevalent evil-overcrowding. The planting having been properly finished, the soil must 
be watered, sufficient being given to settle the whole without saturation, after which the case 
should be kept closed for a few days, or until the plants begin to show signs of growing and 
becoming established, when a moderate amount of air must be given every day. On excep- 
tionally hot and dry days the ventilators will be best kept nearly or quite closed until evening. 
Thus managed the ferns will not require a large quantity of water ; indeed, nothing is more 
detrimental to health than keeping them too wet, therefore the skill of the possessor must be 
exercised in preserving the happy medium. 
A west or north-west window affords a good position for the fern-case, and if the sun’s 
rays should at any time appear too powerful, some light shading material will readily obviate 
all danger from burning. 
It is the custom with many who grow ferns in Wardian cases to replant and renew the 
soil every spring. With this, however, we cannot agree ; we look upon it as destroying the 
happy arrangement which nature has brought about by the mixture of growth, and unless the 
soil has become sour, or the plants over-growing each other, we would advise them to be 
disturbed as little as possible. Therefore, in order to avoid the necessity of disturbing the 
case annually, it is necessary to observe two rules at starting: 1st, Water carefully; always 
give enough to well saturate the soil, but leaving no surplus to cause sourness ; this can only 
