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Hymenophyllum , &c., want very little repotting. They do, indeed, require from time to time 
additional surface to spread over, but after firmly establishing themselves upon a log of wood, 
piece of sandstone, or other congenial surface, they become almost, or quite, independent of 
their base. As we have previously stated, ferns require an abundant supply of water ; in fact, 
at no season of the year must they be allowed to feel the effect of drought, if they are expected 
to keep in vigorous health and increase in size. In a state of nature many species may indeed, 
nay, certainly do, suffer considerably from this cause ; but the object of a cultivator should be 
to represent nature in her best form. This is the work the true gardener sets himself to 
do, and the success which attends these efforts is truly astounding, as our gardens and plant- 
houses amply testify. 
In taking leave of this portion of the subject, we shall simply add that during summer 
water must be freely given, and during the winter and resting season sufficient must be allowed 
them to keep the roots of the ferns from perishing. 
Those of our fern-loving readers who are the possessors of a frame or pit have it in 
their power to indulge their taste for the beautiful to a far greater extent than those not 
possessing such valuable accessories, because many ferns placed under glass retain their fronds 
through the winter months. When possible, winter the pot-plants in the frame, protecting them from 
frost until the spring, when they may be again placed in the open air. Those not possessed 
of a frame should remove the pots to a sheltered corner and plunge them up to their rims 
in order to prevent frost injuring the roots. The refuse from cocoa-fibre is perhaps the very 
best material to use ; it is light, warm, and very clean. During severe frosts and on sunny 
days the tops of the plants should be covered with some light material, such as dry bracken, 
or anything that is convenient. It may appear strange that we advise the covering of the 
plants on sunny days, but it is of the greatest importance to do this, in order to prevent undue 
excitement; for plants maybe excited into growth by warm sun during the end of hebruary 
and beginning of March, which is long before all danger from frosts is over, and it is both 
better and easier to retard growth by excluding the sun’s rays, than to try to protect the plants 
afterwards. 
Wardian Case Culture. 
We have already remarked that amongst the ferns of Europe there arc some few species 
from the warm and sunny south which cannot withstand unprotected the severities of an 
English winter. This difficulty, however, may be easily overcome by the use of glass or War- 
dian cases, popularly so called in honour of their inventor, Mr. N. B. Ward, who many years 
ago began the culture of such plants as Tnchoinanes and Hymenophyllum in them. Gieat 
success attended these first efforts, which led to various improvements, until at the present 
day they may be obtained of any size or shape, and, when filled with a well grown collection, 
few objects are more attractive in a dwelling-house. 
Like many more important discoveries, the discovery of the Wardian case was due to 
what is often called an “ accident.” Mr. Ward had tried in vain to realise what he tells us 
was “the earliest object of [his] ambition — to possess an old wall covered with feins and mosses. 
His rockery, however, “surrounded by numerous manufactories and enveloped in their smoke, 
was not a success, and the attempt was given up in despair. “ I was led, he says, to 1 effect 
a little more deeply upon the subject in consequence of a simple incident which occuircd in the 
summer of 1829. I had buried the chrysalis of a sphinx in some moist mould contained in 
a wide-mouthed glass bottle, covered with a lid. In watching the bottle from day to day, I 
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