66 
DOMESTIC GARDENING. 
continued growth ; but, acting in conjunction 
with other causes, and viewing its effects not 
with reference to this particular point, but to 
its general influence on vegetable develop- 
ment, it may be regarded as being the prin- 
cipal source of the difficulties which attend 
the growth of plants in the interior of living 
rooms. This situation, from the same cause, is 
also unfavourable to the preservation of many 
— perhaps the majority — of species, when they 
have elsewhere been brought to a blooming state, 
and are removed to it for the purpose of decora- 
tion. A living room, therefore, should be re- 
garded as a position in which plants should not 
be kept for any lengthened time; but only for 
particular purposes, or on occasions of necessity. 
When, however, such plants as are kept in 
the interior of rooms are enclosed within a 
case, or other structure, which is pervious to 
light, and at the same time will allow of being 
kept closed, so as to confine a portion of the 
atmosphere, which then becomes more tho- 
roughly imbued with moisture, very much of 
the objection in the way of cultivation is 
removed : the surface of the soil which is 
enclosed gives out by evaporation a portion of 
its moisture ; and this becomes united with the 
other constituents of the atmosphere, thus 
counterbalancing the aridity we have spoken 
of as being so detrimental to vegetable life. 
This will go on without giving rise to any 
trouble or care for a considerable time, if the 
structure is comparatively close; because then 
the escape of moisture is very trifling, and 
consequently it is not soon exhausted. Under 
ordinary cases, a slight increase of heat causes 
this evaporation ; and then again, a fall of tem- 
perature induces the deposition of moisture, 
which is thus alternately evaporated into 
the air, and in a condensed form again re- 
turned to the soil. By this arrangement, 
almost all plants can be grown in rooms, pro- 
vided the temperature, the moisture, and some 
minor points, are duly regulated ; but as the 
space is necessarily limited at which light can 
be obtained and admitted, and as this is an 
essential in the growth of plants, so it neces- 
sarily follows that these structures are much 
restricted as to their size, and the number of 
plants which can be accommodated is pro- 
portionally limited also : hence, it is only 
plants of considerable beauty, and small size, 
or others of much singularity or interest, 
which can be attempted to be grown. It is, 
however, sufficiently gratifying to know that 
there is a considerable choice of plants which 
possess every qualification that can be desired. 
Structures of this kind have, of late, come 
much into use under the name of Wardian 
Cases : they are generally made quite plain, 
with a span top ; sometimes quite closed, and 
at others with their covers removable. Their 
principal advantage, in a cultural point of view, 
consisting in their preserving a moist atmo- 
sphere about the plants, these trifling differ- 
ences of structure are not of much import- 
ance, so long as they are kept closed suf- 
ficiently to effect this purpose. The question 
of structure becomes, therefore, one of design 
and taste. We feel somewhat disposed to differ 
with those who prefer the ordinary plain con- 
struction, principally because they are in- 
tended to occupy prominent and conspicuous 
positions ; on that account, we think them 
deserving and entitled to a greater expenditure 
of design and of decoration in their construc- 
tion. We would have a much more evident 
and obvious design to be manifested in them, 
because they are avowedly intended for orna- 
mental purposes; and however beautifully and 
vigorously the plants may grow within them, 
we cannot but regard such extreme plainness 
of outline as : very detractive from the gene- 
ral ornamental effect. We greatly prefer the 
adoption of such forms as those of ancient or 
classic temples, or other buildings, either 
ancient or modern, which display architectural 
skill and beauty. There are many of these 
whose forms would offer no obstruction to the 
accomplishment of this purpose ; and thus, 
whilst they would serve as objects of intense 
interest, as being models of famous buildings, 
of which the originals, perhaps, have long since 
been mouldering in the dust, but whose record 
has been preserved in the archives of classic 
literature, they would, at the same time, serve 
for the culture and protection of plants, whose 
beauteous forms and colours would not be 
lessened by their being exhibited in connexion 
with the chaste and elegant lines of pure 
architecture. Existing or recorded structures, 
too, devoted to the culture of plants, whether 
domestic or foreign, if at all suitable, might 
be adopted as guides, both in designing and 
executing them; and these would not be 
altogether devoid of interest on this ground 
alone, whilst they would be equally suited for 
the purposes intended. 
The exercise of architectural taste might 
here have ample scope for its exhibition, in the 
formation of new designs, which should be in 
character with the general aspect of the 
scenery they were intended to accompany. 
We cannot believe that attention to these 
points would add so greatly to their expensive- 
ness, as to prevent them, on this account, from 
being as generally, at least, in request as 
formerly: indeed, the difference in this respect 
can be but trifling ; because, so long as the 
principal and obvious features of the archi- 
tectural character were preserved, much of the 
decorative and ornamental parts might be dis- 
pensed with altogether. 
We are not aware that cases of this descrip- 
