100: THE FLORIST AND 
with perfect ease, and for any length of time, in dwelling-rooms, in the most 
crowded cities, with perfect success. This is accomplished by means of what 
are known as " Ward's Cases." They may be of any size and shape, to suit 
the taste or convenience of the owner ; may fit in a window, or stand upon 
a table in any part of the room. The only thing to be observed, is to avoid 
the mid-day sun. The bottom and a foot of the sides may be of wood ; the 
rest glazed, on the ordinary hot-bed system, or it may be glazed with large 
sheets of glass ; the latter, although the most expensive, will look the hand- 
somest, and show the plants to the best advantage. The case being com- 
pleted, put eight or ten inches of soil in, say one-fourth part loam, the rest 
peat and sharp sand ; to which add some charcoal or small pebbles, to keep 
the soil open, which is of the greatest importance in Eern culture ; over the 
soil place some pieces of rock and shells, to give it a natural appearance, 
and among these plant the Ferns ; when this is done, sprinkle all through 
a fine rosed watering-pot ; then shut down the top, or movable part of the 
case ; but be careful not to over-water at first, for fear of souring the soil, 
in which case the plants would remain sickly. 
The cases being made as nearly air-tight as possible, it will be seen that 
the plants are completely shut up from the great enemy of vegetation — a 
dry and dusty atmosphere — unavoidable in dwelling-rooms ; and as evapora- 
tion is prevented, watering will seldom be required, probably not more than 
once in two or three weeks in summer, and much more seldom in winter. 
The same thing can be accomplished with large bell-glasses as with a 
« Ward Case." 
The prettiest piece of miniature rock -work I ever saw, was contained 
within a bell-glass of about eighteen inches in diameter. The part contain- 
ing the mould was circular, and made of wood, about six inches deep, the 
outside veneered with mahogany ; over the mould, which was elevated a 
little in the centre, was placed small pieces of fancy rock and shells, and 
among them were planted the Ferns ; the bell-glass rested in a groove in 
the wood-work, and could be lifted off at pleasure. The whole stood upon 
the drawing-room table, and the little Ferns, growing on their "rocky 
mountain," were an object of attraction to every person who entered the 
room, especially in winter. 
As the family of Ferns is so very extensive, and each species, vieing in 
beauty and loveliness with its neighbor, it would be difiicult to name any 
handsomer than others, fit for planting in cases, but any of the following 
will prove very interesting, and are all of dwarf habit : 
