Description of Fern-Cases. 59 
no reasonable prospect of it undergoing any alteration for a year or two, a 
peaty mixture will be preferable to cocoa-nut in every case, if it can be 
obtained. Having used the cocoa-nut fibre in ways almost innumerable, we 
recommend to fern-growers a mixture of one part good yellow loam with two 
parts cocoa-nut refuse, with one part silver sand, the whole thoroughly mixed 
and almost powdered together. In this mixture any and every fern will grow 
luxuriantly, and yet with sufficient substance to endure a few vicissitudes 
without harm. 
The case here represented was planted with two objects in view— first, to 
create as picturesque an effect as possible; and secondly, to prove the fitness 
of certain ferns for a certain routine of treatment. It fell to my lot, as one 
skilful in such things, to construct the mimic archway, and fill it with 
“ pockets ” for the reception of small ferns. For that purpose I took two 
square seed-pans, and placed them bottom upwards on the zinc floor of the 
case as the abutments, which, of course, when the case was filled with soil, 
were hidden from view. From the fiat foundations of burnt clay thus pro¬ 
vided, I began to build, using small pieces of coke dipped in a batter of 
Portland, and spending a few hours every day for four days in succession upon 
the work ere it was completed. In the pockets were inserted specimens of 
Cystopteris regia } Camptosorus rhizophyllus , Asplenium flabellifolium , Scolopen- 
drium vulgare var. ramosum , S. vulgare polyschides, and S. vulgare ramo-margi- 
natum , Adiantum hispidulum , and a few Selaginellas ; the latter soon grew so 
as to smother the whole fabric, forming a rich belt of various tints of blue 
and green, with the ferns pushing through them. On the right hand side of 
the arch was planted Nephrolepis exaltata , one of the most superb of 
Wardian-case ferns, and remarkably distinct with its graceful arching poly¬ 
podium-like fronds. On the left hand Nephrolepis pectinata , which is of the 
same habit of growth, and a very beautiful and interesting fern; nevertheless, 
less beautiful than the other, as it is also less vigorous. A small plant of 
Platycerium grande , the “ Elk’s horn ” fern, was then planted in the husk of 
a cocoa-nut, and suspended by copper wire to the crown of the arch, and in 
twelve months its new growth was so vigorous that it had to be removed, 
and is now flourishing in the greenhouse. Two more notable ferns were 
introduced, namely ,—Pteris flabellata var. crispa , a very erect and character¬ 
istic fern of large growth, quite cheap and common, and one of the best 
for glass cases of at least two feet in height within. The other was our 
fine old hardy friend Cyrtomium falcatum , which is worth a place anywhere 
