PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
Not many years have elapsed since the closed 
cases were introduced to the notice of the public 
— their principal applications being, the growth 
of plants in all situations, even in those un- 
favourable to their development in the open air, 
and their conveyance to and from distant coun- 
tries. As regards the former of these appli- 
cations, although the use of the cases is daily 
becoming more extensive, much disappointment 
has arisen, in many instances ; but failures 
have resulted, in almost all cases, from want 
of thought or of knowledge, for the Author 
believes that it would be difficult to specify 
any plant, intractable of culture in the closed 
cases, where its natural conditions with respect 
to heat, light, &c., have been fulfilled. As to 
the conveyance of plants on shipboard, the plan 
is now universally adopted, and it is believed 
that there is not a civilized spot upon the earth’s 
surface which has not, more or less, benefited by 
their introduction. 
