CULTIVATION IN WARDIAN CASES. 
29 
His third desideratum was to prevent the escape of 
moisture, and so ensure a continually damp atmosphere 
to the ferns. 
His fourth desideratum was to secure such an amount 
of light and solar heat as should bring the ferns to their 
full development. This is attained according to the 
size of the species of fern and the size of the case em- 
ployed. When due proportions are observed, the ferns 
grow luxuriantly, and ripen their spores to perfection. 
For the convenience of the many desiring new fern- 
cases, we quote the directions for the building of one 
given recently in the * Journal of Horticulture/ 
“We require a planed, well-seasoned deal board, 21 
inches by 12 inches, and 1^ inch thick ; also two other 
planed deal boards 12 inches by 10 inches, of the same 
thickness. These latter are firmly mortised perpendicu- 
larly into the ends of the former, 1 inch from the edge. 
Grooves \ inch by f inch are, in each case, cut in the 
inner side of the uprights, and carried in a right line 
along the base pieces \ inch from their edges. This 
framework may be covered all over with oil paint, three 
coats in thickness ; or, if preferred, it can be coloured 
with oak-stain, and thoroughly varnished thrice with 
shellac dissolved in spirits of wine. When dry, the 
grooves are filled with white or red-lead putty, and 
glazed with J inch sheet glass. The putty having set, 
the joints can be varnished, and a frame of deal mould- 
ing screwed on the top, the screws passing downwards 
into the uprights. Ornamental finials of turned deal 
are fixed by wire pegs to the upper rail at its four corners. 
A sheet of glass lies loosely on the top of the moulded rail. 
Thus with the addition of a few perforations in the vertical 
pieces above soil-level, the ventilation necessary can be 
