WINDOW GARDENING. 
185 
often behold; and yet a glance at illustration No. 48, will show how pleasing such 
a decoration might be, and how simply it could be made. This design is con- 
structed of wood, in the form of a hexagonal pillu-, wiih vase at the top. 
At various places in each side are little niches or oi)enings, into which are in- 
troduced the fern shells; these are filled with earth, usually holding a pint to a 
quart, and the fern grows gracefully outward. This pillar holds 19 vessels, and 
affords a rare opportunity of cultivating quite a variety. If the centre of the 
pillar is hollow it must be filled up by hand with some eartliy material, and 
either moss or cocoanut fibre or dust may ife pi-essed firmly. The soil for the 
bricks should be peat two parts; loam or woods mould one part, silver sand one 
part, • 
An English lady, filling such a case, once adopted this selection of plants. As 
mentioned in the Gardener's Magazine, " In the vase at the top were some plants 
of the Asplciiium flabelli folium, one of the most elegant of all the small trailing 
ferns. To help out the effect of this, a tuft of the pretty rush laolepis gracilis 
is introduced. This falls over in most graceful gla.ss-like outlines, and as it loves 
moisture it is quite at home under a bell glass. In the shells at the sides of the 
column are specimens of AcUantum eapillus veneris, A. hispidulums, and A. 
cuneatum, the last of which may grow too large; if so, it sliould be removed. 
One of the most suitable of all ferns is Woodsia Ilcensis, which grows marvel- 
ously, and seems to be at home in the porous ware of the vessel. Other good 
ferns are Aspleniumfontanum,A.rutamuraria,Doodlalunulata,Doodia cau- 
data, Woodsia ohtiisa, Ci/stojHerisfracjileDiclcana, Cami)tozaurus,rhizopliyllus, 
(one of the rarest of the exoiic Hearts Tongue ferns,) Scolopendrium vulgare, 
V. proliferum vamo marginatum, and v. polyschides, Lastrea filix-mas v. Schofiel- 
dii, Adiantum setulosum, Ilymenophyllum Wilsoni, Athyrium f.f. diffissum. 
These are the cheapest of all designs for the window. Fig. 59 and CO being 
obtainable at almost any glass store, at prices of 8:2.00 to !$5.00 complete. Figs. 
61 and C2, are in a basket vase. Figs. 03 and 04 aie with potteiy ware or lava 
boxes, resting upon stands. Fig. 65, is made of rustic wood and has a wooden 
bowl, upon which the glass cylinder rests. Fig. GO is an iron stand, with a plain 
earthen bowl beneath the fernery, the outside of which is decorated with a net- 
work of wire. 
Among the various designs of Wardian Ca.ses, for the drawing-room or saloon 
there are often met a few of much simpler material, which can be used for other 
purposes. Figs. G7 and G8 are so constructed that they can be used at one time 
for growing ferns within, or they can be used merely for holding cut flowers in 
moist sand or water. In Fig. 08, the top is movable, fitting into a brass groove, 
and must be lifted entirely off the table when the plants are to be placed inside 
or need any attention. AH the ornamental work around the edges of the stand, 
and the frame work for holding the glass plates, is made of brass ; the stand 
itself is of wood. The size of the interior is about 18 inches in diameter,by 12 
inches hijih. 
