TVTKDOW GARDENING. 
Avoid too much moisture. If tlicre should be too much inside the case, open 
it daily until a little has evaporated into the outer air, and then close agam. It 
will not need watering or opening again for a month or more. 
Plants for The Fern Case. 
In arranging your plants place the strongest growers m the centre, and the 
smaller at the sides. 
Besides standard plants in the fernery, there are often introduced little hang- 
ing plants suspended from the top of the glass frame. Plants for this purpose 
are simply taken out of their pots, their balls of earth are surrounded with 
moss, tied with copper wire, a loop running from which is fastened into a hook 
in the top, and then it becomes a 
miniature hanging basket. In Eng- 
land small potsof gutta percha are 
manufactured for this express pur- 
pose. 
You will perhaps be advised by 
some florists not to choose for your 
fern case any of our native plants, 
because it is difficult to transplant 
them from their native soil, just at 
close of summer when they have 
done growing, and compel them to 
continue life continuously there- 
after, in opposition to their nature, 
which demands rest during the, 
winter season. Nevertheless it is 
done, and many a pretty fern case 
is indebted to some plant treasure 
of this character stolen from Syl- 
va's bowery retreats, to grace the 
setting room ; they still thrive, de- 
spite the prognostications of wise Fij?. 49.— Parlor Fern stand covered with Glass, 
heads as to failure. The Lygodium puhnatiim, or Climbing Fern, is very suit- 
able, and can be usually found in shad}' or moist spots in xx\y of our Eastern 
States. It has a slender running root and stalk, from which proceed twining 
flexible stems, with very smooth palmate leaves or frondlets; these running 
stems or stalks are often three feet long, and the whole plant resembles in growth 
a delicate little Ivy. Besides its suitableness for the Fern Case, it is especially 
desirable for Rock Work in a conservatory. 
The Pai fridfje Vine, (Mitchella,) is also invaluable, for its brilliant scarlet 
berries enliven the sober green of the ferns or form an excellent contrast with 
the mosses. Take up large vines of it, with as many berries as you can procure ; 
