360 
DOMESTIC GARDENING. 
sibly diminished, before the growing season is 
past, a fresh application will become necessary; 
and this will, in its turn, become subjected to a 
similar alternation. 
It is somewhat important, that the soil 
which is made use of should be as pure as it 
can be obtained, and as far as possible unmixed 
with substances which, in undergoing decay, 
will evolve gases which are injurious to 
vegetation : the close nature of the structure 
renders this precaution necessary; for other- 
wise the accumulation of these noxious quali- 
ties would endanger the well-being of the 
plants ; when, however, ordinary care is be- 
stowed at the outset, but little fear of incon- 
venience from this source need be entertained. 
Sometimes, in consequence of the more 
rapid growth of one plant than another, it 
becomes necessary to re-arrange the contents 
of the case, and perhaps altogether to remove 
some of the largest of the plants, and replace 
them by smaller ones, either of the same, or 
of different kinds. The variety which it thus 
becomes practicable to secure, will be found 
to be very pleasing; and in fact, without such 
a re-arrangement occasionally effected, the 
assemblage would perhaps soon cease to give 
rise to emotions of satisfaction, in consequence 
of the overgrowth of some plants having the 
effect of weakening, or perhaps destroying, the 
more delicate, and therefore interesting, plants. 
In general, an annual re-arrangement judici- 
ally effected, will be found to be sufficient. 
The ease should at all times be placed as 
much as possible within the influence of light: 
it might, however, be well to avoid the direct 
rays of the sun, when they are powerful, for 
the plants being necessarily subjected, during 
a great portion of the day, to less than a na- 
tural and ordinary degree of light, might be 
liable to suffer, in consequence of their delicate 
nature, which is occasioned by the circum- 
stances in which they are placed. The occa- 
sion of the plants obtaining less than a natural 
share of light, the grand agent in vegetable 
development, will be found to consist in the 
position they occupy ; first, within a room, 
where light cannot be equally diffused on every 
side, and then within another lodging-house, 
which, even if formed of the purest and most 
transparent glass, would again refract and 
weaken the rays of light that had already been 
partially broken in passing through the win- 
dow. With this general exception, and another 
provisionally made in the cases of Ferns, which 
grow equally well, or better, in a shady place, 
we may assume, that the window, or as near 
it as possible, would be the most appropriate 
place in which to station them. We may as 
well add, that in no case ought the glass form- 
ing these cases to be allowed to become 
covered, either internally or externally, by an 
accumulation of filth, thus obstructing the 
passage of light, and also preventing a full 
inspection of the plants. 
On the approach of winter, the position of 
the case, with respect to temperature, will 
require some attention : mere protection from 
frost is not sufficient for the majority of the 
plants which would be selected; at the same 
time, in consequence of the closeness of the 
atmosphere, the temperature does not require 
to be elevated to the degree usually afforded 
to the same class of plants in hot-houses. For 
the most part, an even temperature of about 
60° maintained during the day, would be quite 
sufficient during the winter ; and in the sum- 
mer season, they might be allowed to accom- 
modate themselves to the existing degree of 
heat. One thing should be particularly avoided, 
and that is a high night temperature ; if pos- 
sible, during the night, it ought to be several 
degrees low.er than by day ; consequently, 
whatever means may be taken to keep up the 
necessary degree of heat, should be applied 
principally in the day time, when the light is 
sufficient to assimilate the food, which is taken 
up into the system under its influence ; an 
opposite course — that of forcing the plants to 
the exercise of these functions, when the most 
necessary and important condition is wanting, 
can have no other effect than that' of weaken- 
ing the constitutional vigour of the plants, 
and if persisted in, of ultimately destroying 
both it and them. 
List of Plants adapted for being grown in the 
interior of living rooms, in Wardian Cases. 
Those marked thus (s) may be planted, some in pots 
and baskets, and some on blocks of wood, and sus- 
pended from the roof; those marked (r) are suitable 
for being planted on portions of artificial rock-work, 
elevated above the surface of the soil. 
ACHIMENES LONGIFLORA, (long - tubed 
Achimenes.) — Rich light loam. 
Achimenes ROf ea, (rosy Achimenes.) 
r Adiantum formosum, (handsome Mai- 
den-hair.)— Sandy peat and loam. 
r Adiantum hispidulum, (slighty hairy 
Maiden-hair.) 
r Adiantum Moritzianum, (Moritz's Mai- 
den-hair.) 
r Allosurus crispis, (curled Allosurus.) 
— Sandy loam. 
s Aspasia epidendroides, (epidendrum- 
like Aspasia.) — Turfy peat. 
r Aspidium mollis, (soft Shield Fern.) — 
Sandy peat and loam. 
s Asplenium flabellifolium, (fan-leaved 
Spleenwort.) — Sandy peat and loam. 
r Asplenium pr^emorsum, (bitten Spleen- 
wort.) 
s Brassia Lanceana, (Lance's Brassia.) — 
Turfy peat. 
