THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
289 
A. Peruvianum is a very fine large leaved kind ; the 
fronds grow to a height of two or three feet, the 
pinnae are large, trapeziform, and dark green, while the 
rachis and stipes are polished ebony black. 
A very satisfactory plant for a rockery or out-door 
fernery is our native Maiden-hair, A. pedatum, or 
Bird’s-foot Adiantum, It has tine light green leaves 
and slender black stems supported by a creeping rhi¬ 
zome. It may he transplanted from its native woods in 
the early spring before the fronds are expanded, or in 
the autumn. Give it the mixture of peat, leaf-mould 
and sand iu which it delights, shade and moisture, but 
good drainage, and it will be a thing of beauty year 
after year. 
By the way, the reason why we called these Ferns 
Maiden-hair is in allusion to the fine, glossy black 
stems common to most of the species. 
I am in a quandary ! I gave the Adiantums first rank, 
because of their beauty and a personal weakness for the 
family; as a natural consequence, I have an olla-podrida 
of Ferns for the house, Ferns for the garden, and Ferns 
to be grown under glass. Instead of continuing such a 
mixed classification, I will branch off to one special 
part of my subject—Fern cases. 
The simplest form of Fern-case is a bell-glass fitted 
over a flower-pot; from that we may go to any degree 
of elaboration. When the shade fits into a dish, if there 
is water in the rim where the shade rests, the case is 
air-tight, and must be ventilated every day by remov¬ 
ing it altogether for an hour or two. This allows the 
foliage to dry off, and prevents mould. Still, it is 
possible to do more harm than good by this ventilation, 
if the air in the room is very dry or warm, the expos¬ 
ure will injure the tender fronds. A very simple and 
effectual mode of ventilating consists in taking off the 
shade, wiping it dry, and then replacing it. To begin 
the process of planting a Fern-case, if it is intended for 
a winter ornament, it should be planted in July or 
August, so that the plants may be established before 
cold weather. 
With good ventilation and plenty of moisture below , 
not over the fronds, it will be well established before 
winter, while the soil will hold enough moisture to 
render little water necessary before spring. Soil: in a 
case six inches deep, lay first about three inches of bro¬ 
ken flower pots, or cinders the size of a walnut, over 
this a coating of half-decayed moss ; fill tip to the top 
with a mixture of peat, silver sand and small broken 
charcoal. This should be broken up by the hand, but 
though thoroughly mixed, must not be too fine. When 
the case is filled with soil, take boiling water and pour 
over it until saturated. This is for the purpose of de¬ 
stroying any insects, weeds or fungus spores. When the 
pan is nearly cold, plant the ferns ; if the soil is more 
than an inch below the edge of the pan, fill it to that 
level with some of the finer compost. 
The following may be recommended for the Fern- 
case of a beginner: 
Asplenium marinum, sea Spleenwort, Asplenium vir- 
ide, Scolopendrium vulgare, the common Hart’s Tongue, 
Lomaria lanceolata, and Adiantum setulosum. One of 
the little Selaginellas, such as S. apodum, would soon 
cover the surface if desired. Any of these plants will 
bear a little neglect, but they must have good drainage, 
and not be water-logged—one of the great faults with 
amateurs. E. L. Taplix. 
PLANT INVADERS. 
Although there are several species of these trouble¬ 
some little pests, known by the technical term of ap¬ 
hides, their destruction is similar. In light stony soils 
they will fasten on the roots of Apple trees, and in a 
short time cause a mass of ungainly excrescences and 
knobs, so as to injure the vitality of the tree and even¬ 
tually cause its death. Wood-ashes scattered over the 
surface of the soil close to its trunk will often effect a 
cure; but in bad, cases the tree should be dug, then 
wash the roots clean, dust with wood-ashes, or air- 
slacked lime, and replant. 
The annoying green-fly is very readily eradicated, but 
if not takqn in time will permanently injure many plants. 
Under glass, the smoke from tobacco-stems quickly 
destroys them, and on Roses in the open air, a little 
pyretlirum-powder or white hellebore is sure death to 
the unwelcome visitors. The black species that dis¬ 
figure the tips of Chrysanthemums in summer are more 
difficult to get rid of, but a frequent dusting with snuff 
is a partial cure at least, and if persisted in will finally 
eradicate them. Occasionally German Asters will as¬ 
sume a stunted, sickly appearance, and if taken out of 
the ground the roots will be found covered with little 
aphides. They should be washed in tepid water and 
sprinkled with wood-ashes. Indeed, wood-ashes on the 
soil, or a little weak lime-water, will often work a cure 
without digging up the plants.— Josiali Hoopes. 
A WATER ROCKERY. 
One summer, when spending a vacation in Vermont, 
I made the acquaintance of a farmer who had displayed 
considerable ingenuity in the matter of conveying 
water from a small spring situated on the side of a high 
hill which stood at the rear of his house. This spring 
originally flowed down the hill-side and wasted itself 
in a neighboring swamp. By excavating to the depth of 
three feet a reservoir was formed ; from this reservoir 
a bent lead pipe, which formed a syphon, led down the 
hill-side and into the wash-house, where it connected 
with a large wooden tub in which cream, milk, butter, 
etc. was kept perfectly cool by the constant flowing in 
