IN-DOOR CULTIVATION. 
3 
ment, we dig round the roots, and deeply down, so as 
not to injure them ; and removing each specimen with 
a good portion of its natural soil, we consign them to 
our vasculum, until, returning to our town home, we 
think of establishing our fern-case. The elegance of 
this may vary, according to our means or our pleasure 
the humblest form being, as far as we know, as suc¬ 
cessful, according to its size, as the most elaborate. 
The first thing in any case is to secure good drainage, 
by one or more holes at the bottom of the case ; be it 
either a large earthen flower-saucer, a soup-plate, or a 
zinc constructed case. Broken flower-pets, cinders, 
bits of sandstone, and then a compound of peat-earth 
and silver sand, should fill these pans or cases, and 
porous bits of stone forming artificial rocks may be 
built up and around the ferns when they are planted 
On these rocks, mosses and lycopodiums will grow 
and thrive. For the covering of the commonest kind 
of case, obtain a bell-glass just large enough to fit 
tightly round the edge of the pan, so as to exclude the 
external air. This may be removed occasionally, and 
the fronds sprinkled with water, but not too often; 
and, as far as possible, the glass should be kept bright 
and clear. The soil, before being used, should be 
carefully sifted, to prevent any worms or insect eggs 
being admitted with it. Any appearance of blight 
may be treated with lime-water. 
The case itself should not be placed in too retired 
a part of the room (except as regards that containing 
B 2 
