166 
WIiYBOW GARDENING. 
round, should have a small door to roach the plants without lifting the glass top. 
The soil for fern cases, should be carefully attended to; no common garden 
earth will answer; get it from the most reliable florist if possible, — and even 
some of these may not know exactly the needs of tlie plant. For ferns, chjose 
loaf mould one part, silver sand one part, dry friable peat two parts. Avoid that 
peat which comes from wet unhealthy situations. Wherever you see ferns grow- 
ino' near the edge of woods or running streams, you can be safe in taking P'^me 
of the same soil, if you cannot get a good compost anywhere else. English flor sts, 
who have access to special materials, make up a particular compost of the *bl 
Fig. 46.— Heatod Fern Case. 
lowing materials which is described as perfect. INIix equal parts of silver sand 
good loam, powdered charcoal, refuse of cocoanut fibre. If you wish, you maj 
cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of powdered charcoal, or bricks or grave 
broken to the size of hazel nuts, to a depth of one inch, if pan is four inches 
deep ; or one and one-half inches if 6 inches deep. Do not take the advice of those 
wlio recommend filling the pan half full with small charcoal; such a proportion 
is unnecessary. When the soil has been placed in the pan press firmly that 
all the plants may be set solidly. 
Location for fern cases. They will do well anywhere, and that is just what the 
