subject: Return Of The "wardian Cases" [print this page] You say your fern that used to grace the center of the dining-room table is dying and that all your Chinese lily buds are blighted? Well, it is probably the dry furnace heat that has caused the trouble and will cause it again if you buy a new fern. I know how maddening it must be to try so hard to make one little plant grow and to fail time and again but why not change your tactics and have a whole conservatory full of them? You can do it very easily, although I'll admit it would be a very small conservatory full of small plants. At least I can guarantee that it would be ornamental and successful. Maybe some one in your family is clever enough to manufacture one or possibly you have something on hand that would serve your purpose?
My own little greenhouse was originally a glass scales case; and better yet would be an old aquarium. It should be the rectangular box variety and it will not matter if it leaks as long as the glass sides are whole. Clean the glass until it sparkles and your conservatory is ready for its soil. Woods earth mixed with one-third sand is good for this, and first of all put in a layer of pebbles for drainage. The earth should be about three inches deep, providing your aquarium is good sized-ten gallons or over. If it is a small one you can use less earth and smaller plants.
You can go for a walk in the woods any time between March and December and find plenty of suitable ferns and plants for your greenhouse. If you cannot get to the woods go to a florist and see what can be bought in the way of ferns and flowers. And now comes the important thing without which your conservatory would fail. You must have a piece of glass cut the exact size of the base of your aquarium. Lay this over the top so that your plants are enclosed in a glass box. Sprinkle them with water before putting on the lid, and after that they will take care of themselves, since moisture is constantly condensing on the inside of the glass.
The reason for this is that the plants are giving out moisture all the time and it is simply kept from evaporating by the airtight container. The plants flourish in the damp air they cannot get in our houses. So the secret is in that top piece of glass. Plant cases of this kind were first displayed at the World's Fair in 1851 by a man named Ward, and were called "Wardian cases." After that no drawing room was considered "tasteful" without one, and they really are pretty. Why should they not become popular again?
