DOMESTIC GARDENING. 
359 
a twofold office to fulfil ; first, to take away 
the superfluous moisture from the soil, when 
it has been applied in too great abundance ; 
and secondly, to serve as an absorbent and 
perpetual reservoir of moisture, from which it 
may be continually given out to the soil, for 
the use of the plants, as its supply becomes 
lessened by gradual evaporation. The me- 
chanical portion of this operation of draining, 
should be thus performed : — In the bottom of 
the box (the inside of which should be coated 
with pitch, as a preservative) place a layer of 
porous material, such as broken bricks, flower- 
pots, clinkers, sandstone, or any such like 
substance; these materials should be broken 
to about the size of an ordinary fowl's egg, 
and may be used to form a layer about three 
or four inches in thickness ; on this, place 
about two inches in thickness of similar mate- 
rial, in a somewhat more reduced state. Above 
this open material, place a layer of broken turf, 
of a light, somewhat sandy loamy texture, and 
immediately over it the prepared compost ac- 
cording to the kinds of plants which it is 
intended to cultivate. 
Whatever the character of the plants may 
I>e which are selected, we think some portion 
of rock work, a few rough stones at least, should 
form part of the interior arrangement ; in 
some instances, as with Ferns, these may be 
increased so as to occupy nearly the whole 
surface. Besides the advantage of their pic- 
turesque effect, when properly regulated, they 
would in all cases be found to act beneficially, 
inasmuch as they would favour the regular 
distribution of moisture both in the soil and 
atmosphere, by absorbing it in considerable 
quantity, and then giving it out again by 
evaporation. Any of the various sandstones 
will be found suitable for this purpose; it 
should be broken into blocks of convenient 
size, but of course, being applied to so small a 
space, they ought not to be very large. It 
should be borne in mind, in making a selection 
of plants, that although a very miscellaneous 
group may be successfully grown in company 
with each other, yet a greater degree of per- 
fection individually may be attained by select- 
ing those which are somewhat assimilated in 
the natural features of their character; thus, 
for example, the Ferns, or Ferns with Orchi- 
daceous plants, may be grown very successfully 
together; but neither would so well associate 
with Cacti, whereas the latter would grow 
very well in company with any of the more 
hardy green-house plants. As a general rule, 
it may be advanced, that those plants which 
require either a more abundant or limited 
supply of moisture, are those which should be 
placed together. 
In the arrangement of the plants some care 
should be taken to produce artistical effect, 
and to avoid tamcness and formality, even 
though the field of operation is but of limited 
extent; thus the denizens of the forest, tower- 
ing aloft, peerless and majestic, should have 
their appropriate representatives, whilst be- 
neath them, the tender herb should appear as 
though naturally seeking their shade, or the 
epiphytes growing against their sterns, should 
seem to be clinging there for support. Some 
species may be represented as growing on 
rocks, others on the stumps of trees; some 
basking in the full glare of the sun, and others 
reposing in some peaceful shade. Now, all 
these little natural and intensely interesting 
characteristics, may be very successfully and 
pleasingly exhibited, even within the limited 
boundary of a Wardian case : it only requires 
a little forethought and discrimination in the 
choice of subjects, and some degree of taste in 
their arrangement. 
The soil which is made use of should, as 
much as possible, consist of the turfy portions 
of its kind, obtained by paring and collecting 
about three inches in depth of the surface, 
of the respective kinds; after collecting, this 
should be spread out, and dried sufficiently to 
kill the plants naturally growing in it, and is 
then fit for use; but if it is not required for 
immediate use, it should be collected into small 
parcels, and protected from heavy rains, so as 
not to become soddened by an excess of mois- 
ture. Before using, it should be chopped into 
small portions, about the size of pigeons' eggs, 
and should by no means be reduced to a finer 
state, either by sifting or any other process; 
but should be used in this rough open state. 
The roots of the plants, if they have been 
kept in pots previously to the time of planting 
in the case, should then be carefully released 
and spread out, and the soil evenly placed 
about them : the soil should then receive a 
gentle but thorough watering, and afterwards 
the glass frame should be put on over the 
whole. By a beautifully alternating process 
of evaporation and condensation, a single ap- 
plication of moisture will be found to be suffi- 
cient for a considerable length of time, regulated, 
of course, by the degree in which the glass 
frame will prevent evaporation, in consequence 
of its close construction. The heat of the sun 
by day will cause a steady and gradual evapo- 
ration from the soil during that period; and 
this moisture, after rising among the foliage, 
and in contact with every part of the plants, 
and there ministering to their necessities, will 
be as steadily and gradually condensed, as it 
comes in contact with the cooler surface of 
the glass, when the sun has left it, or during 
the evening and night: in this condensed form 
the moisture is restored to the soil, to be ag.^in 
and again submitted to a similar process. 
When the supply becomes exhausted, or sen- 
