51 
The Fernery at the Fireside . 
opposite side some mischief may be done. The case 
figured on p. 50 may be taken to pieces in a few seconds, 
as each sheet of glass is fitted in a separate frame, and 
all the frames drop into grooves and are braced together 
at the corners by means of small hooks and eyes. The 
patent cases made by Gray of Danvers Street, Chelsea, 
are of this make, and they have the additional advantage 
of a boiler to afford warmth from below; this boiler 
requires to be filled only once or twice a day in winter 
according to the severity of the weather. Ventilation 
is easily effected without causing a draught by simply 
tilting up the top glass. 
It is a great convenience if a fern, case can be 
moved about without difficulty, and it is astonishing 
what may be accomplished in this respect by the exer- 
cise of forethought. For example, if you buy one of 
Gray's cases it will be supplied on a miserable set of 
legs with wooden castors, and even if a small one it 
will be difficult to move it. But if you follow our plan 
the difficulty vanishes, and you may take your fern cases 
with you on your travels, or at all events wheel them from 
room to room with a mere touch. The legs sent with 
the case are converted into firewood, and the case is 
put on a strong framework made by our own carpenter, 
of which the annexed figure affords an accurate repre- 
sentation, save and excepting one particular. 
The frame figured is one on which stands a case 
measuring three feet long, two feet high, and eighteen 
inches wide. The frame consists of a skirting-board, A, 
with neatly-moulded top edge, six inches in depth, 
mounted on four neat but strong legs, which are fitted 
