The cover is raised on light hinges, and secured from falling back by delicate chains at the sides, as shown by the cut annexed.

The pipe on the upper line of the frame is cut through the centre; so that half of it rises with the top, the glass being secured by thin brass clamps.

Between the glass frame and the wooden base is a zinc ventilator, about two and a quarter inches square, perforated with fine holes on the outside and upon the upper surface of the inside. The glass frame rests upon the ventilator, which on the exterior is beautifully decorated with illuminating colors, gratefully relieving the sombre character of the black walnut below. The cut following will explain the ventilator better than words can do:

This apparatus admits air; and the glass frame, not being air-tight, has escapes enough to produce a gentle current of air through the Case: but at times, for part of the day, it is well to wedge the top open half an inch with a piece of cork. If moisture in the Case should become excessive, the top must be raised entirely for a while. Five or ten minutes will clear it entirely of vapor. That Wardian Cases should be air-tight is a mistake, although I had some satisfaction with such a one for several years; but, in a Case where air is judiciously admitted, a much larger number of plants may be successfully grown, and among them many flowering ones.

There is danger from too much moisture, and especially from stagnant wet: so a thorough system of drainage is absolutely necessary. I have a false zinc bottom, perforated with holes at least an eighth of an inch in diameter, supported by zinc standards in the shape of a quarter-inch pipe, an inch high at the sides, that rests upon a true zinc bottom, falling from all sides an inch or so to a common aperture in the centre, which, by a pipe, communicates surplus water to a vessel in the drawer beneath. The whole basin in which the earth and plants rest is lined with zinc; and the ventilator has a small conductor on each interior side opening into the soil, to allow the water that may collect there to pass out. The drainage is shown by the accompanying cuts :

My Case is constructed to turn upon a pivot, as all plants will gradually draw towards the light; and an occasional turning prevents their becoming awry, and thereby contributes to general neatness, which is an important consideration to be observed in the management of these Cases. The Case turns under the first member of the lower mouldings of the wooden base, which to the eye, however, appears entirely solid.

My Case has a Southern exposure; but my neighbor's house, about forty feet distant, cuts off the winter sun, so that the direct rays reach the window, where the Case is exposed, only for an hour every day. I have a linen shade at the window to screen the plants whenever the sunshine is persistent; and this precaution is important. I hardly think I would prefer a southern exposure if other situations were equally convenient, especially where no buildings intervened to modify or obstruct the direct rays of the sun.

The plants are generally in pots, resting upon an inch of broken charcoal; the spaces between being filled half way up with charcoal and crocks. The surface soil is composed of one-third loam, one-third sand, and onethird leaf-mould. I water copiously when the plants are first introduced in the fall, and perhaps twice again during the winter; while I sprinkle moderately every two or three weeks. With a little care and judgment, the Case may be kept in excellent order all through the winter. My Case is in my dining-room, where the temperature ranges constantly from 60° to 70° Fahrenheit.

Slugs occasionally do considerable damage, and must be watched for and exterminated. Some things they are partial to, and these may be used as traps. A bit of euphorbia has succeeded well with me in attracting these pests. The green fly sometimes appears, and may easily be put to rout by the use of tobacco-smoke. I resorted to this remedy once this winter with great success, and without the slightest inconvenience. Place the bowl of an empty pipe over one filled with burning tobacco, the stems being in opposite directions; introduce one stem into the top of the Case, and, by blowing in the other, the Case will be soon filled with smoke.* George B. Warren, Jun.

TROY, N.Y.

(To be continued.)

AUCUBA JAPONICA.

We long since noticed the introduction from Japan of a male plant of the Aucuba Japonica, and the consequent production of plants bearing fruit in this country. Previously we had only plants bearing female blossoms. Mr. Standish, promptly taking advantage of the production of fruit, has raised seedlings, and with more than expected success: for one of them exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society produced hermaphrodite flowers; that is, each flower had stamens. and pistil. Many naturalists consider that when either set of organs is not developed in a flower, yet the rudiments of that set exist, and only require some particular mode of cultivation for their development.- Cottage Gardener.

⚫ I introduce plants into my Case about the 1st of November, and remove them about the 1st of May. I then put the Case away, and consign the plants to a florist's greenhouse until the next fall.

STRAWBERRIES IN 1867.

I DESIRE to keep a promise made to the Editors of this Journal, and give a brief résumé of the behavior of various kinds of strawberries under

garden-cultivation the present season.

The season itself has not been extremely favorable, and there has been a general complaint of the sourness of most strawberries.

Yet the fruit in the market has been fully up to the usual size, and timely rains kept the berries on sale till quite late in July.

AGRICULTURIST. - One-year-old plants of this much-talked-of kind bore this year a large crop of monstrous berries, from second to third rate in color and flavor. Two-year-old plants bore a full crop of small to medium poor-flavored and easily-decaying fruit, and are comparatively worthless. The Agriculturist must be raised after the Belmont plan; i.e., annually.

BIJOU. — A moderately-good foreign kind, better than the Triomphe de Gand, and not so good as La Constante. Of no special value.

BONTÉ DE ST. JULIEN. It is strange that this old variety should be so greatly neglected. It is vigorous; productive beyond the usual run of foreign sorts. Its fruit is handsome in shape and color, and of an exceedingly rich and sweet flavor. The berries are held well up from the ground. It is a mistake to let less valuable kinds supplant this old favorite.

BROOKLYN SCARLET. - Plants vigorous, hardy, and moderately productive; fruit small to medium, conical, scarlet, long-necked, of rich and delicate flavor. Excellent for a family berry, but unsuitable for market.

EXPOSITION À CHALONS.- Plants vigorous and hardy, not very productive; berries medium, sometimes monstrous, often coxcombed, bright scarlet, with a peculiar flavor, much like the Triomphe de Gand. This kind perhaps deserves a place in a large collection, but has no great merit.

FRENCH'S EARLY. A native variety. A native variety. Plants vigorous and hardy; fruit medium in size, bright-colored, moderately-early, soft, and not very rich or good.

FROGMORE LATE PINE. The fruit is large to monstrous in si

son, white-fleshed, always regularly conical, and as good in flavor as a strawberry can be. Plants set out in August, in the middle of the dry weather, stood the winter unprotected, and bore a good crop. In a too rich or too poor soil, the Frogmore bears but little. A soil of medium fertility suits it best. Too soft for market, but will prove, I think, one of the best kinds for the amateur.

LUCAS. This new kind sustains its reputation as a very large, rich berry, with a peculiar and pleasant flavor, much like a raspberry.

LUCIDA PERFECTA. - A very beautiful and striking plant; foliage dark, glossy green; berries flattened (much like the sketch of the Boule d'Or in Fuller's new book); dark-scarlet when ripe; rich, sweet, and juicy. The Lucida is a very poor bearer: and this is extremely unlucky; for it is the very latest kind I know; very few blossoms being open before the 25th of May, and not many berries fully ripe till after July 4. The fruit continues to ripen till August; and I am in hopes that some from the Lucida will outdo the parent plant.

of my seedlings

LA NÉGRESSE. A peculiar and easily distinguishable variety. Fruit a very long, round cone, pointed, rich, and sweet; variable in color, being sometimes scarlet, and sometimes of the color of a dead-ripe Agriculturist.

MEAD'S SEEDLING. - Plants vigorous, with dark-green leaves, and medium conical, round-pointed scarlet berries, rather acid, and of no peculiar merit.

PRINCESSE ROYALE.

- A handsome, conical, firm berry, neither rich nor sweet. Plants moderately vigorous, and not very productive.

PRINCE'S SCARLET MAGNATE. A good hardy, native variety, moderately prolific, and of medium flavor. Worth cultivating, but undeserving of the praise lavished on it by its originator. Not worth so much as the Green Prolific.

QUINQUEFOLIA. - An exceedingly fine foreign kind. Foliage peculiarly crumpled and wavy; berries large to monstrous, conical, slightly flattened, but never coxcombed, bright-scarlet, glazed, and very rich, juicy, and refreshing. Two-year-old plants bore this season a medium crop. With high cultivation, I think this or the Lucas would prove a formidable rival to the La Constante, as I have raised splendid specimens of these two on poor soil unmanured for two years.