The Aquarium 4/43 1897

Page 1



3{90IOO 'a

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/

^OIVISION OF FISHES ^. NATTOKAL f/.USEllMPEIL, 1897.

Vol. IV.'.

No. 43.

Student? and LoVefg Edocation and

of Matui^e,

{^Bcreatioi].

$1.00 a Tear. Single Copies, £S Cents each.

HUGO MULERTT, BROOKLYN, Copyright.

N. Y.

All Rights Reserved.

Entered at the Post OCace at Brooklyn, N. Y., as secoud-class mail matter. ,CM£f'


A

:

:

USEFUL READING! SINGLE NUMBERS OF

Thb

Hquariutvt.

PROFITABLE, INSTRUCTIVE,

ENTERTAININO, FOR EVERYBODY. Subjects The Parlor Aquarium—General Management of House plants

—The Terrarium

A

in No. 26 Heating an Aquarium Process of reproduction in fishes How to fishes— Trout-like —The breed the Paradise fish- Carnivin No. 28 orous plants The Carp-like fishes— Vallesneria for the winter — Carnivorous plants Autointoxication in in No. 29 Goldfish The Carp-like fishes—The Lobster

— Dwarflno-

plants in Japan— .in No. 30 The Mistletoe The Carp-like fishes—You, too, in

The Stickleback— The Yellow or King-Perch— Window Conservatories—How to water— Fresh in No. water Polyps— Ferns Charms of the Lily Pond— Shapes of Aquarimns — The Brazilian in No. Zebra fish Biographical

Ehrenberg

sketch

of

— Siamese

fish— Exhibition

ture

Terrarium combined

No. 31

The Suckers— Aquatic plants at home— The Iris— Ferns.. in No.

32

My Aquarium — Aquarium

bitions The Banana tion of Leeches

youn^

fish

— Fringe-tail in No. 41

The New York Aquarium—The hearing of a fish— The proper

and

position for an .'

— Marine

Bulbs

— Planting

Orchid collecting Goldfish

inNo. 36

My Aquarium — Aquarium

Aquarium— The Para-

35

C. G. fighting

Aquariums

natural

dise fish— Development of the Frog Origin of Sagittaria nain No. 39 tans— Golden Tench Idyl of a rambler Fish Parasites in No. 40 —The Rhubarb In and Outlets for fish tanks Ancient fish culture- Pearl cul-

34

Aquarium— Nel-

unbrium album grandiflorum in

No. 42

of the Parlor Aquarium of the Water Lily— Sagittaria " Frances M. "

The care

laboratories— House culture of

need recreation—Hanging baskets

A

Dredging excursion— Hyacinth culture in Holland— Ferns— in No. 33 practical Fernery

or Fernease—

inNo. 37 exhi-

— Propaga-

— Outlo.->k

in

No. 43

in No. 38

In addition to the above leading articles, each number contains smaller cnes on similar subjects, notes, clippi7igs and anstvers to queries (which in many cases 25c. each, prove of great value to the reader), and many correct illustrations. sent post-paid Vol.

III.,

upon

receipt of price.

bound, $3.50

(Nos. 25-36), with table of contents, substantially

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"The cloth

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iVew Edition do.

•'How

to

and ;

its

Culture;" 108 pages,

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HUGO MULERTT,

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10c.

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A. -venue,

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Y., U. S.

A.


APRIL,

Vol. IV.

Copyright

1897.

THE CARE OF THE PARLOR We know

of nothing

and take

it

common

of

monotony

mind

more

likely to

to healthy exertion,

out of the immediate track interests

of

which

and pleasures, is

tlie

so oppressive,

than the study of natural history its

cially its

extraordinary development in

fields, espe-

Each department and distinct kind of sight. Those who cannot see Nature, Avho cannot see more than a " funny thing " in a little poly wog are passing before them.

like

one gazing at a carved Egyptian

who

record,

perceives,

ness as regards one of the highest

and

human

re-

most enchanting

how few there are who seek charming mode of dissipating

that

search.

dreary monotony of every-day

such

as it is

made by

or habit

even

tory, is,

!

the

the routine of fashion

A popular love of natural hisin its best

known

divisions,

in fact, of quite recent date. Indeed,

the very existence of such a science has till recently, altogether ignored by our great national seats of learning. The earnest investigators, wlio have done so much to lay bare its wonders,

been,

were either ridiculed or treated with but small respect as useless dreamers upon very small and insignificant mat-

Art,

To appreciate Nature, as well as the mind requires a sj)ecial educa-

tion,

without which the eye and the

ters.

ear perceive but little of the miracles

the hiero-

And

life,

in

simply the sculptured figure of a polywog, and no more they are in a state of Egyptian darkglyphic character,

connection with the aquarium. yet

in

some of

least explored

43.

of science requires a separate

AQUARIUM. stimulate the

Xo

1897.

All Rights Reserved.

When, Nature

is

fields of

however, learned,

longer a confused

the

language

and her voice

murmur

is

of

no

to the ear,

but becomes a brilliant series of

elo-

quent words, full of deep and exquisite meaning, then the student will see as well as hear ; but till then, in his intercourse with nature, he

is both deaf and Speak," said Socrates to a youth; " say something, that I may see you." Socrates saAv not a silent man and those who do not- hear and understand Nature's language cannot see her

blind.

'-

;

wondrous beauty. The aquarium has been at all times and in all ages a source of information and amusement for the cultured and rich.

Already, thousands of years ago.


QH I

THE AQUAKIUM,

98

the Chinese* adorned their houses and gardens with aquariums, the old Egyp-

APRIL.

1897.

The aquarium

of those days

was of

course quite different from the aqua-

The manufacture

tians

rium

in

of sheet-ghiss not being invented then,

and the noble Romans had theirs, which they cultivated choice water-

of the present.

AcjuABiuM ON Cabinet Stand.

plants and

ages

we

fish.

find rare

During the middle and beautiful fishes

and aquatic plants in precious basins in the famous castles of Europe.

tanks containing the collections were basins formed of costly stones or china, and the contents could only be viewed from above.

the


THE AQUARIUM, APRIL, THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AQUARIUM. Whether the

principles

scientific

iipon which the success of an aquarium

were already understood by

based

is

the ancients, of

known and now

At any

hard to prove.

manner

not

is

rate, the jn-esent

aquarium

sustaining an

through the action of aquatic plants without change of water, is based on Ingenhauss's discovery,

made

in

of light emit an air wltich he announced us oxygen gas." Fish inhale the oxygen contained in

likewise by lady amateurs, observe the

joy

creates

it

up

their

own

tissues, give

the oxy-

off

often their leaves will be seen to be

covered with an innumerable assemblage of minute globules of that gas, glistening like dew-drops

upon

grass.

Carbonic acid gas is heavier than oxygen. It is the same body that collects in wells and in some of our mines and which ib also given off from stoves, often causing disease and death. When this gas

is

present in too large a quan-

in-

man.

LOCATION FOR THE AQUARIUM.

An aquarium

very beneficial

also

is

improving the sanitary condition of a living or bed room through its purify ing influence on the atmosphere. All in

the impurities of the air are absorbed

into the

gen again for the fish, so that this gas oxygen becomes but a carrier of carbon from the animal economy to that of When the sun shines the vegetable. on the plants in our aquarium, very

the

bed chamber,

feel proud, for tlicy were unknowingly great benefactors to

ous compound

this the plants inhale,

child,

they would justly

the plants

;

the

in

valid, or the sick in the

the water and exhale in turn a gas called carbonic acid gas, a very poisonand, appropriating the carbon lo build

99

animals from every zone of the globe, see fishes and amphibians bred in them, not solely by professionals, but

the

second half of the eighteenth century that " plants when exposed to the action

1897.

by the water, this

is in turn purified by and the water evaporating

room is perfectly pure. As we have seen above, the founda-

tion of an

aquarium

When one

has

aquarium into

the plant

is

life.

concluded to get an

his house, the first thing

that should be considered

is

the location

of the tank.

The

best side of a

room for the aqua-

rium is that having a window near which it is to be placed, as the light can be increased or reduced by regulating

the shades

best exposure

by such

is

an

accordingly.

The

that towards the North

;

the aquarium

exposure

about six inches away from the window next best is one should stand

;

towards the East, the best distance in such a case is about twelve inches from

window

next best

window

uncomfortable at the bottom, they go near the surface of the

the

water and finally are forced to breathe

rium about eighteen inches towards the room, and when the windows are high even more space may be left between

tity the fish feel

the oxygen contained in

the

atmos-

many

useful

phere.

This

discovery,

like

others was from year to year improved,

and could these

scientists

of

bygone

days see the parlor aquarium of America to-day, inhabited Avith plants and

;

is

a

fac-

ing South or West, here set the aqua-

(see illustrations pp. 8(5-88).

When an aquarium between two windows, enough

in the

room

be located

is

to

it

should be far

to receive the light

from both, and in a corner room with


THE AQUARIUM, APRIL,

100

windows

at

should be

both angles, the aquarium diagonally so that the

set

from each window will enter the aquarium from each end. But, although we want plenty of

light

light for the plants,

much allow

we should avoid

as possible the sun.

as

In winter

the sunshine you can get, but

all

towards the spring, from February on, shelter the tank from his direct rays.

The most

favorable temperature for the

welfare of the collection ranges between 60째 and 90째 F.

1897.

some distance away from theacjuarium, it, and study the best effect re-

look at

garding the arranging of the rocks. Don't be in too great a hurry remem;

ber that this arrangement

is

to be for at

least one season, and don't forget that you must make allowances for the

plants,

making

as little shade for

in placing the rocks as possible.

them

The

arrangement of the rocks being completed, the next move is the planting

know

Since we

the plants.

of

that

these are the prime factors for the main-

tenance of the aquarium, this should be

THE TANK.

done with great

When we have chosen a place for the aquarium the next step is to secure a The best tank is the rectangutank. lar one, metal frame with glass sides and ends and glass or slate lined bottom. This tank is placed on a stand, table or bracket of proportionate height to secure

and

proper light for the plants

an easy inspection of the

to allow

contents.

When

the tank

is

erly cleansed with

secured

^jrop-

it is

clean water

and

a

sponge, but without the aid of soap,

and

filled

up

to the top

with water to

test the resistance of the glass

detect any leaks.

and

to

In making this test

the tank should be in a perfectly level position,

and

of

course not in a car-

peted parlor.

care.

The plants may be well rooted specimens or mere cuttings, in either case handle them gently, do not bruise or break them. Plant them in the sand with the same care as you would a tender seedling plant in your garden, ar-

ranging the different groups according to the picture

you had made in your

mind when you

sat in the chair think-

An

ing about the rockery.

aquatic

garden can be made a charming little sub-marine landscape, prettier than any picture. Be not "close" when you make your selection of plants for the aquarium, it would be '^ penny wisdom," as the success of everything depends on them. They need not necessarily be expensive plants,

moner

species

some

being

the

com-

excellent

oxy-

of

genators, but since plants, outside of their purifying faculties,

ARRANGING THE COLLECTION.

add greatly to

the attractions of an aquarium, liber-

Having stood placed in that

it

its

the

test

it

now

is

ality in this direction is well placed.

Whilst you are planting, sprinkle the

position, care being taken

sets perfectly level.

Now

get

plants every few minutes with water,

the washed rocks or tuff-stone intended

so they

for the rockery ready, put a sufficient

air.

may

not suffer from

the dry

All being planted, the next thing

quantity of well washed sharp sand on

to

the bottom of the tank to cover

large pebbles in an afimrently careless

it

to

the height of about one inch.

This done, seat yourself in a chair

do

is

to place

some small stones or

manner on the bottom, some immediate vicinity of the

in the

plants

to


THE AQUARIUM, steady the roots of

while others

tliein,

APRIL,

101

1897.

which is a sponge fastened to end of a stick, and slowly wipe

wiper,

are placed in groups of threes or fours

the

together, leaving small crevices between each stone to catch the refuse matter

the inside of the glass of the aquarium,

that will collect in time.

The aquarium

is

If

the hydrant, provided that if

to re-

live in a city

that has waterworks, use

water from it

is

clear

you cannot have that, take clear

tern

or

must be drink.

:

cis-

spring water, but the water

anybody to Any water that you would not clear

and

fit

like to drink yourself

aquarium

!

Muddy

for

is

not

water

is

fit

for an

as detri-

mental to aquatic plants as dust is to garden plants. If the water is less than 60° F., some warm water should be added, as otherwise the plants would Pour the water into the get chilled. tank slowly and carefully, in order not to wash out the roots of the plants, filling it up to within two inches from the top. Now take a small stick, and by its aid carefully arrange the branches or blades of the plants to suit, then sprinkle a pinch of common table salt on the surface of the water and your

aquarium

is

started.

STOCKING THE AQUARIUM. you wish to do so, you can place the fish in the water at once, but if there is no particular hurry, it is advisable to wait a day or two, in order to have the water settle and to give the j)lants a chance to straighten up and have the sand settled about their roots. After ela2:)se of that period you will see most of the plants covered with minute silvery bubbles, these are oxygen bubbles and you may consider your tank charged with same and in perfect condition to support animal life. Now take the

if it

now

will

ap-

contained no water

Now introduce the fish gently, one at a time, getting them gradually used to the temperature of the water at all.

by slowly mixing

which

the}" were,

it with the water in then add to your col-

two or more frog tadpoles to consume the refuse and otherwise decaying matter and also a few pond snails of the ramshorn type, for the same lection

purpose.

NUMBER OF SPECIMENS. The in

question,

how many

can

fish

an aquarium of a certain

equal

— the answer

the same.

The shape

tially

and the location

in

which

is

live

size,

how much money must

to,

have to be rich

a

is

man

substan-

of the tank

it

placed,

is

determine the number of fish that Should comfortably live in it. location be bad as regards light, amount of oxygen generated in

can the

the the

tank will be less, while if the situation is highly favorable in every respect, the evolution

reach If

The aquarium

pear as clear as

now ready you

making the motion up and down, avoid touching the sand as this would scratch the glass.

FILLING THE TANK.

ceive the water.

flat

its

of

the life-giving gas will

maximum

degree.

The quannum-

tity of v\'ater required for a given

is furthermore regulated by and the nature of the treatment they have received before they came into your possession. If. for instance, they were kept in running water, or were newly caught in a large pond,

ber of fish their size

they will

naturally require

larger quantity of water than

had already been accustomed

much

a if

to

they a life

Some fish need a great oxygen while others get along withremarkably little. An aquaof captivity.

amount

of


THE AQUARIUM, APKIL,

102 stand as

riiim will

many

fish

as the

plants can supply with oxygen.

The only way of a tank

various

to ascertain the ability

structures

Fish, in order to be objects of study or enjoyment, should above all things

they must

" at home," and it is much the better plan to keep only a few choice specimens (of a noble type and good habits) and make real pets of these, than to crowd the tank with indifferent stock. For an aquarium holding from five to twenty gallons of water and kept for ornamental purposes, two handsome specimens of equally proportioned feel

sunfish, for instance, strawberry bass

or

;

brook trout or two gorgeous Japanese fringe-tail goldfish or a pair of golden tench, make a strika

pair

of

;

;

ing

A

effect.

tained

about

if

similar good effect

such a tank

is

is

ob-

stocked with

five fish of different varieties of

the same species.

Tanks of the author were seen by millions of jjeople at the various industrial

during

expositions

ment

itself, all

fish

each

fish

many

The

fish

cattle in a pasture

of a piece of

The whole

is

forest

appear like so with the edge a background.

as

a living picture continu-

changing, but always charming. our nerves and imparts a peaceful feeling.

is

to

One this,

Allow for

same period.

ing time.

Should

any unconsumed

food remain at the bottom the tadpoles

and

snails

will

devour

Once or

it.

twice a week the inside of the glass

should be cleaned with the wiper, thus

preventing algae covering structing the view.

and ob-

it

This

is

a

flat

sponge or thick piece of felt securely fastened to an appropriately shaped metal plate on the end of a stick, or on the

flattened

stick

and wider end

of

the

At the same time the

itself.

collected

to full notice.

almost takes

necessary

a mouthful of food each feed-

which arrangeSuch a

tank as mentioned above brings the arrangement of the rockery and the plants

it is

should be fed as nearly as

possible at the

water lost

notice

that

person only should have charge of

and the

replaced.

to

say a few

the aquarium has

feed the fish regularly every day.

we had we had good op-

ment was the most admired.

if

been properly started, care of

We

an aquarium.

of

remarks, because

the last twenty-five years where portunities

and and

be said in regard to the general manage-

them

displayed, and

compared

be

There now remain a few remarks to

that you have arrived at the limit.

;

habits

GENERAL MANAGEMENT.

nntil you see by the action of the fish

comfortable and happy

may

in order

of fish

studied.

specimens, adding from time to time

feel

species

different forms,

that the

by beginning with a few

is

prise

1897.

by evaporation should be

Once a week the sediment that has between the pebbles, introduced for this purpose, should be removed by the aid of a glass dipping tube or a rubber syphon. Saud that has been displaced by the fish, laying the roots of the plants bare, its

is returned to proper place with the dredge. This a little scoop-like instrument of

ally

is

Its perfect silence rests

metal, fastened at right angles to a long

If the

aquarium

is

handle.

Some times

to be a source of

it

happens that a plant

information to children or pastime for

is

invalids,

accidentally by a visitor

a different

course

is

to be

taken and the collection should com-

pulled out of the sand by the

should

be

replanted

fish,

or

such a plant without delay. ;


:

THE AQUARIUM, Use the dipping tube

to hold

down

it

being covered with pebbles and sand with the at the roots while these are

APRIL,

small scrubbing brush before replacing in position.

The

aquarium tools during the winter months, when the water

is

chilly, as

they

make

it

un-

necessary to put the hands into the

water at

is

and remove the fish, etc., placing them in a clean tin vessel with plenty of water of suitable temperatuie. Take out the balance of the water now and also the sand, but do not move the tank from its position. After washing the sand particles

the inside of the glass

off

to prevent scratching, clean

ordinary table

salt,

instead of a brash.

it

with

using the fingers All the

brownish

matter being taken

off,

the

tank is once more washed with clean water and is then ready again for re stocking.

The sand should

be well washed in

various waters until perfectly clean beis

it

Where sand supply

is

put is

back into the tank. easily obtained

a

new

preferable.

The rock work,

it

us practicable. or three hours of labor once or

—what a wealth

bring to a family hospital

We

or the rock used for should be scalded and then washed

and pastime circle,

of pleas-

will

school

they

room

or

?

cannot leave this chapter without

calling

attention to

" What

is

the

worth doing

saying

old

at all is

worth

doing well."

FISH GOSSIP. It is curious

how, in looking over old

papers, some matter

is

come

across of

as great interest at the present time as

was when

it

first

given to the pub-

although, perhaps, the

lic,

article in

question was written long ago.

make

I

gen-

any point of special information, and a few selections from time to time, bearing on fish, erally

may prove

a note

of

of interest to the readers of

The Aquarium. Some

the entire

inside of the tank by rubbing

the tank

;

returned as soon

fish, etc.,

ure, information

be thor-

to

and

refilled,

twice in a year

oughly cleaned and re-arranged, which should be done once or twice every year, the water is drawn off with a rubber syphon to within about six inches from the bottom (this water, if practicable, is saved and used again when the tank is re-filled. The older the water, the better. The author has used water for eleven years in this way). Next take out the rockwork, then all the plants, also the larger pebbles, and now carefully catch

fore

planted again without delay

Two

the aquarium

or green

plants are then looked over and

the most desirable ones selected and

all.

re-arkanCtIng the aquarium.

When

with a rough sponge or

in salt Avater

dredge. Esj)ecially useful are these

103

1897.

years ago Professor Farraday

a paper

read

before the

Anglers' Association on of Fish," in

Manchester " The Mind

which he stated the follow-

ing curious circumstance:

"A

morsel

thrown into a tank fell in the angle formed by the glass bottom and A skate, the inmate of the the front. of food

tank,

made

several

attempts to seize

the food, but owing to the position of

mouth on

the under surface of the and the closeness of the food to It lay the glass, was unable to do so. its

liead,

still

for a w^hile, as if thinking, then

suddenly raising

itself into a

slanting


THE AQUARIUM,

104

The A

Kquhriutv^' Single Copies,

25

cts.

1897.

beings like plants, perfectly distinct

Ql'arterly Magazine.

$1.00 a Tear.

APKIL,

animal

tissue.

The following

HUGO MULERTT,

F.

I.

" Fish

R. S. A.,

head inclined upwards and the under surface of the body to-

posture, with

broad expanse of

waved the

creating

fins,

jln

from a paper on the

name not given

wp-

ward current or wave in the water which lifted the food from its position and carried it right into the fish's mouth."

are of nearly the

same

rise,

them with a sufficient supply some substance lighter than water by which any tendency to sink at all ordinary depths might be countersupplies of

provided against by an

acted.

This

amount

of fat or oil with

is

are furnished,

which they and which being in about

the same proportion to the solid parts to

communication from a Mr. Goodsir, giving a description and a drawing of a vegetable parasite found on the gills of a gold-fish, with a minute account of its form, structure, and mode is

a

Later on, in 1842, a

of fructification.

Dr. Bennett gave an account also of the same to the same society. He said: "To the eye they present the appearance of flocculent matter attached

Under

the microscope two

structures

were noticed, one

to the gill.

distinct cellular,

other

the

non-cellular,

the

former consisting of long tubes, some filled with granular matter, some empty, the contents having escaped through rupture. This vegetable growth sprang from a fine granular amorphous mass." Professor Muller, of Berlin, in a paper

read before the

Academy

of that city in

1841, alluded to similar parasites evidently.

He

said

:

" Possessing a

life

which is peculiar, but having no power He calls them organic of movement."

little

but swim up or down with equal facility. Nature, however,

tendency to

bring them to about the same

sjiecific

gravity as water, supersedes in

In one of the old Tninsactions of the Royal Botanical Society of Edinburgh

:

speci-

gravity as water, and so have

fic

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Avards the food, the creature

is

habits offish, author's

Editor and Publisher, 173 Nostrand Av.,

^

^

H^

Each.

Advertising Kates on Application.

with a structure

from the celludes of

the necessity of

making any

them

efforts ex-

cept for the purpose of changing their

The

situation.

their

air

buoyancy,

bladder

whilst

modifies

among

the

cefacea the oil as blubber serves as a

This air bladder, moreover, wanting among the cartilaginous fish, and many of those that lie in mud. Its principal use seems to be to increase or diminish their weight and to modify substitute.

is

their specific gravity."

H. B. Small.

OUTLOOK OF THE WATER LILY. There

present as never before,

at

is

in every pursuit in life

battle-cry

against

an awakening

luxury,

together with a growing tendency, whethei' for

manual labor

or

material, to inaugu-

and quality at the expense of the unqualified and spurious. And nowhere is this truth receiving more substantial recognition than in rate real merit

the

various

branches of asfriculture.


THE AQUARIUM, There

APRIL,

105

1897.

a manifest inclination towards

gained universal admiration in growing,

centralizing on a few reliable varieties

crowded and overflowing nations, long, long before young America was born, and she, too, must step into ranks and follow the example of the more frugal

is

and vegetables,

of fruits, flowers

ni'merons inferior

carding the

The watchword

dis-

sorts.

for a plant that gives

is

the greatest results with least outlay.

Merit alone hobbies

— not advertising

— shall be

which a plant

is

the only criterion by

— must have

ture

The

of

beauty,

grace and

lily

has been

of horticul-

throughout all time; but the powers of the pen and brush are inadequate to give it justice; and if the half were told it would be considered a fancy

not only theoretical

practical

The entrancing

fragrance of the water

the watchword of the poets and artists

advertising points but a substantial combination

Orient.

peo-

sustained.

plant— the beau-ideal

ple's

or special

excellencies, as.

^'

-M

fllBfl

4t]

3^ ^ ErROPEAN Water Lily (NymplioBa

for

instance, in

floriculture

a

plant

must produce not only an abundance of beautiful flowers but have the qualities

of

space,

ease

bination

is

economy of Such a compossessed by every

culture,

not

by very few but there those which, when measured by

flower, in fact

are

of

and usefulness.

this unbiased

;

ordeal, will survive

the

test and be standards in a new hortiOne of these is the Water culture.

alba).

proof

pudding," however, "is in the eating," and here the reality eclipses the most vivid conceptions of the imof the

agination.

Search the poetry of the

ages and nations and condense finest

into

expressions

rhapsody, the reality

a

all

the

descriptive

then cast your eyes upon

— a water

lily

pond

in all its

glory and admit that language can never

portray a true conception of

Lily.

drous beauty. But

it

needs no praise;

Ever since the dawn of creation has proven its eflicient worth and

"The

sketch or exaggeration.

let

its

won-

pax'amount beauty us glance at other

its


THE AQUAEIUM,

106

which combine

jDoints of excellence

make

it

to

the plant of the million.

APRIL,

1897.

wholesome

stagnant

in

fish

ponds,

pools or hatcheries, with their whole

—

Their Ease of Culture. Proverbially they are the easiest cared for of all Plant and the work is done. hoeing, weeding or watering neces-

surface exposed to the boiling sun,

and

not a trace of vegetable matter for the

flowers.

fish to

No

and unhealthy. seems to be the divine purpose and object of the Creator that water plants should meet the necessities of water animals. They are mutually depend-

When

sary.

once

they

established

glory in the drouth and rejoice in the

A

floods.

superabundance of the finest every occasion, without

flower on

of

care or attention,

is

a specialty of the

Water Lily family. They never become troublesome or pestiferous m ponds, and can be easily eradicated when desired.

Economy

Next,

of

SjDace.

— Water

grow where nothing else will, spreading out their lovely foliage to hide the ugly mud hole, animate the lonely, naked pond, and fringe the monotonous lake, yielding a rich harvest lilies

of beauty,

health and pleasure

from

places otherwise unsightly, unhealthy

and worthless. on

lie

roasting

the barren rocks or the of

hidden and the on the naked but nothing

the desert sand,

smiling orchid perch itself branches of the lofty tree, save the water

can embellish the millions of beautiful lakes, streams and ponds dotted throughout our land. But in thinking of their simplicity lily

and unusual beauty, we must " For not forget their usefulness. meat and medicine " they have ever been renowned, and in our own age they may be made the most useful of all our ornamental plants. In systeof culture

matic

and

fish culture, aquatics generally,

especially such as yield

an abun-

dance of seed, are indispensable. With as other successfuT pursuits, sci-

this,

entific tical

accuracy, combined with prac-

utility,

is

is

utterly inconsistent,

It

ent upon each other just as terrestrial

But

plants and animals are. ject has already

cussed, and

we

of the water

lily,

this sub-

been thoroughly

shall note

dis-

no other use

which alone, regardless

of all its other desirable qualities, will

make

its

culture in this country a uni-

versal necessity. It

rot a well-known, but, how-

is

thoroughly established fact, that aquatics are a certain preventive of the ever, a

Such from decay-

various germs of malarial fevers. diseases have their origin

swampy places The water lily is

ing vegetation in low,

The curious cactus may wastes

forage on,

as well as unprofitable

the watch-word

;

and

the idea of attempting to grow nice.

and stagnant water. at

home

in such

places,

neutralizing

the poisonous germs and absorbing the effluvia that give rise to these diseases,

and

finally

This

is

destroying their habitat.

a question of general and na-

tional interest

and

is

better understood, to lily to

sure, as soon as

promote the water

universal esteem.

Then can we not

see in the water-lily

a combination that cannot be

broken down, a plant whose merits cannot be overrated or its virtues too highly sung

—the

culmination of every point that

could be desired in the beau-ideal of horticulture trace

its

?

Who

can for a

moment

history through the last four

thousand years and see its identification with every civilized tongue and doubt for a

moment

discreet

its j)ossibility

American land

in our

own

?

Geo. B. Moulder.


c?)A<51TTARiA

Trances

A"\"'


THE AQUARIUM,

108

APKIL,

1897.

SAGITTARIA "FRANCES

M."

Having waited patiently eight years for an opi)ortunity to cross Sagittaria lanciolata, a large flowering sub-tropical

species of the arrowhead family, with

"New

Sag.

natans,

we

Era," a seedling of Sag. succeeded in getting

finally

the two species in flower at the same

The

time seven years ago this spring.

j)rodiicts of this cross-fertilization are

our seedlings " Frances

The

M" and " Win-

grower and has not yet flowered, while the former is a good grower and very free dermere."

latter is a slow

bloomer, bearing flowers nearly eight

months

in the year.

having been our aim to produce a desirable aquarium plant, which, in addition of being a good oxygenator for the self-sustaining parlor aquarium, It

have an ornamental charso far restricted our observations regarding the " F, M." to

would

also

acter

we have

;

in-door

culture,

and

just

especially

such culture as the amateur aquarist, for

whom

it is

The

intended, can give.

do in an aquatic greenhouse or in an open air pond, is yet to be tested. possibilities,

The

what

it

can or

Avill

general habit of the plant

of Sag.

" N. E,"

its father,

but

portions are a great deal larger.

ing the season

from

that

is

pro-

its

Dur-

November

till

February, the growth consists of blades, These remain enrich green in color.

below the surface of the water. from one to one and a half inches in width and from six to eighteen

tirely

They

are

inches in

length, nicely

veined

and

netted and gracefully curved.

With the approach aerial leaves

the water.

The

"FRRMCES

K

first

spring,

in

appear above one is narrower

than the submerged blades all others that soon follow are distinctly lanceshaped and are born upon

and

^P^

of

March, the stiffer

;


—

THE AQUARIUM,

APRIL,

109

1897.

These rise to about twelve inches above the water level. After the third aerial leaf is perfected,

a triangular stem.

the flower stalk

makes

rising to about

ten inches above the

water where cate

it

flowers.

opens

The

api^earance,

its

showy but

its

individual

deli-

flowers

are larger in size than a quarter of a

dollar

three petals are pure white,

its

;

NATURE-STUDY

with wavy edges, the stamens being a

Nature-study,

rich yellow.

The

first

flower spike

by others nntil

is

soon followed

the

late in

plant begins

its

when

fall,

np and the

the aerial leaves shrivel

winter growth below

the water surface.

One

of

our plants had

spikes

of

flowers

seventeen

The

season.

last

accompanying sketches were made from specimens in our parlor aquarium. They are growing in pure sharp sand, the tank being near a window with an eastern exposure, and is allowed to have some sunlight occasionally. The one column sketch shows the underwater growth (the blades) its

mode

of reproduction, the abovewater

growth (the

and

leaves),

On

stalks of the plant.

the

flower

the full page

FOR

PUBLIC

SCHOOLS. things in

or

new

a

seeing

light,

familiar

a

is

valuable

How many people can explain, so that a child can understand, why water puts out fire, why

factor in education.

some young squash plants bring their shells out of the ground on their backs and others do not or show the difference between a leaf-bud and a fruit-bud of the apple or tell from whence all the house-flies come ? The world is ;

;

full

of

such

common

which people do

things,

not

about

Yet, such subjects can be made very interinquire.

children, and they can be taken up in the schools, not as an added recitation, but as a rest exercise once or twice each week to relieve the

esting to

monotony

of the school

room and

later

flower spike, showing the forming fruit

be made the theme for a language exercise. Here are two important faculties

and the male

that

cut a single leaf of the plant and a flower,

represented.

is

may

brought into exercise

be

accurate observation and the power of

ADVANTAGES OF PHILOSOPHY wrong to worry, About spilt milk.

It's

We

expressing definitely what

The

I expect,

orter

University has, under

At such times gladly recollect 'Twas over two-tliirds water. — L. A. W. Bulletin:

Agricultural Extension to assist, free

who wish

their schools.

houseplants, are answered to

mation

its

sub-

by mail. If the case requires the answer is sent by return mail.

it,

Single copies 25 cents

;

$1.00 a year.

seen.

the Nixon bill,

of expense,

or

undertaken all

teachers

work into and teachers

to introduce this

A prominent feature of The Aquarium is that questions pertaining to the management of an aquarium or scribers

is

College of Agriculture of Cornell

All j^arents

interested in this their address for

work areasked to send more detailed infor-

to

Chief Clerk, College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y.


THE AQUARIUM, APRIL,

110 the

All

tench,

varieties of

goldfish, carp,

shiuers,

dace,

orfes,

1897.

suckers,

minnows, sunfisb, rockbass, strawberrybass, moss and blackbass, the paradise

and the

zebrafish,

all

the species of

and the tadpoles enjoy to eat our "I. X. L,"fishfood and thrive on The sticklebacks and eels, also the it. catfish,

newts, do not appreciate

Two ums

medium

small or

are easier

it,

however.

sized aquari-

managed than one

of

and afford twice as much Except for special purposes, pleasure. a tank of twenty gallons capacity is as lai'ge a one as any private party should undertake to manage. The care of a large size

larger tank ceases to be a pastime

times it

it

;

at

requires such attentions that

comes pretty

close to hard work.

OuE ALBINO FBOG has passed the muter very nicely. Its pale cream color which it was predicted by some of our readers ''would soon change back into a natural frog color " has not changed in the least, and its prett.y pink eyes are as charming a^ ever.

The Aqitarixjm Society is the name of a new society for the advancement of aquarium and terrarium culture. It was organized last December at Jersey City, N. J. The society numbers already many enthusiastic members, including one lady. Article III of their Constitution relating to memberships reads as follows Section 1— The society shall consist of three classes of members active, corresponding, and honorary. Section 2 All persons over 16 years of age are eligible to active membership. Section 3 —All persons coming -within the pro%d8ions of section 2, but residing beyond a radius of fifteen miles from New York City Hall, shall be eligible to corresponding membership. Section 4— Honorary members shall be such persons who have distinguished themselves by having rendered valuable assistance to the society in furthering its object generally. Section 5 -Dealers shall not be debarred from membership; it must be however definitely understood that they are not to use the fact of their membership as an advertising medium, and that they consider the members privileged parties and grant them reasonable concessions. :

With

the

weather, the

approach

of

the

warm

paradise fish should be

fed frequently with scraped raw beef,

fragments of young (small) earthworms, and, where it is practicable, with live

flea

crab

{Camarus pvlex),

or

other small crustaceans, in order to get

them

into prime condition for breeding.

After the female paradise deposited her eggs,

remove her

it

is

fish

has

the safest plan

to

another tank, or at

least separate her

from the male by a "When the young are

to

glass partition.

ten or twelve days old, she

may

be re-

turned to spawn a second time, after which the same precaution should be taken. Not more than two broods should be raised in one tank, because the first brood would devour the third as soon as hatched.

:

Article V. relating to annual dues, reads ,

as follows

Young goldfish and jmradise fish can be raised successfully on our IXL food. It should be powdered and given to them four or five times a day.

Section

members

:

1

— The

shall

initiation fee of active

be one dollar, payable on

notification of election.

Section

2— The

annual

dues of active


THE AQUARIUM, members

shall

be one dollar and twenty

cents, payable monthly.

The

list

of officers is

APEIL,

Ill

be held at the Wingarden of Hotel Central. It will open June 12th and continue for ten days. Their exhibitions were always very attractive, presenting rare novelties and new ideas. Judging from the premium list how before us, this one ^\ill eclipse all the others scientific pastime, will

ter

:

Eugene Smith, President, F. C. French, Vice-President,

Geo. Baehr, Secretary, Spicer, M. D., Treasurer, R. Breetz, Financial Secretary. P. C. A. Graupner, Librarian.

W.

The meetings will be held on every second Thursday of the month at the GermanAmerican School Building, Jersej' Citj-

the society has held. Those of our readers

who visit Germany summer should arrange to see this ex-

this

hibition.

It will

be a treat to them.

SOWING SEEDS.

Heights.

At the Royal Prussian seminaries for teachers a three-years' course in the art of gardening has been introduced as a reguGardening in all its branches — kitchen, fruit and flower gardening—is taught theoretically and practicall}'. A professor teaches the theory, and the laboratory work (work in the garden) is conducted by a trained gardener. lar studj^ for

1897.

Too deep planting with

failure

of

The depth

a fruitful cause

is

amateur

gardeners.

must be

of the soil

pro-

all.

The young women who wish

to

become

teachers in public schools have to pass as

portioned to the size of the seed. Petunia, Primula, etc., require the least sprinkling of sandy loam.

A

good general rule

to cover the

is

seed only to the thicKness of their

own

diameter, yet this would not hold good

rigid an examination in gardening as in

with Sweet Peas, for they grow better

any other branches of their studj'. The course is highly enjoyed by the students. The usefulness of this course is

when planted

Teachers so trained can not only instruct in botany, but are enabled to give proper care to the house plants which the Prussian authorities order to be grown in at leiiHt one window of each class-room. It manifold.

them to intelligentl3^ cultivate the garden, which is, in nearly every case, attached to the school house, and which facilitates

provides many commodities for the teacher. Last, not least, the schoolma'am, who, no less than the schoolmaster, is looked upon as an authority in all things by the people in Germany, will now be able to give correct advice in many things relating to this useful occupation.

Under the Auspices

With very

them

three inches in depth.

fine seeds it

lightly into

society for the advancement of aquarium

and terrarium culture, at Berlin, Germany, a public exhibition of all sorts of live stock for marine and fresh water aquariums, temperate and tropical terrariums, tanks, cases and the various supplies and apparatus used in connection with this

best to press

the

with the fingers, then shade from the sun three or four days either with cloth or newspapers, and sprinkle over soil

the coverings, not letting

dry at

all,

the seeds by too

Hard cias,

them become germ of

yet not killing the

much

water.

shelled seeds, like canna, aca-

cypress vines, etc., will germinate

much

quicker

if

they are soaked in

boiling water for an hour or so. it

upon them boiling

hot,

and

Turn let

it

stand until cool, then plant the seeds.

Some gardeners of the " Triton," a

is

surface of

tlie

prefer to pour boiling

water upon the surface of the

soil

pre-

pared for them, rather than upon the seeds.

Either way will succeed, but

it

horny substance which envelops the seeds if you is

essential to soften the

desire

them

to grow.

— Windoio

Gardening.


THE AQUAEIUM,

112

APEIL,

1897.

would be cleaner, that's true, and possibly handier, but this would not answer the

Queries.

purpose aimed

for.

Some

For the small sum of one dollar in advance, which pays for a year's subscription to The Aquakiitm, you are entitled to ask information on an}' point regarding the aquarium or the window garden. We offer no other premiiim to our subscribers than that of putting over 25 years of practical experience in these branches at their disposal. Ask as many questions as j^ou please, but All please to enclose postage for reply. questions are answered by mail, and we publish only such in these columns as are of general interest.

Mrs. L. K. If you let the sun shine upon your tank any length of time, you wdll find that the water will discolor and the glass sides of the tank will become covered with green algae, which, although very beneficial to the he dth of the fish, is very annoying. As the welfare of the entire collection depends upon the proper action of the aquar-

ium

plants,

are in any

should be avoided that these fish or anyIf one or the other of j^our

it

way molested by the

thing else. fish takes to the habit of eating or pulling up plants, remove it at once from the colIrregular and insufficient feedinglection. develops this habit. Yes, German carp are vegetarians to a certain extent and, therefore, not a desirable fish for an aqiiarium or lily-pond they are too destructive in such places. Ovir IXL fish food contains vegetable matter in the right proportion and supplies the fish's wants as closely as can be exiiected of an ;

artificial food.

Clean, sharp river or sea EiiJMHURST. sand is the best material to form the bed in an aquarium. All aquarium plants grow as in it to perfection. Earth, peat, etc. the foundation of the sand bed, has many ,

disadvantages.

The

fish will

dig

it

up,

and one need never look for the water to be

clear.

Fish require the sand to clean and gills. Gravel (pebbles

their moviths

aquatic plants, for instance Limnocharis, Aponogeton and 1^'ymphaea flava, grow only to perfection and bloom in an aquarium when planted in rich soil in pots Cfern pots), or yet better in glass salve jars. In this exceptional case, the surface of the soil is to be covered with clean sand and rocks and pebbles to keep the fish from digging. -^

Mrs. M. N. O.—Just why the all-glass aquariums crack is hard to say they may not be uniformly tempered, or because the thickness of their walls and bottoms differ, which makes an even contraction and expansion impossible. The fact remains, they ;

are unreliable at their best.

Why we don't manufacture the hexagon or octagon tank ? Because there is very little, if any, call for that shape. Except where such a tank

be used as a founbay window, it would be very inconvenient. In tanks of such shapes there is too much light and not is to

tain basin in a hall or large

enough

rest for the fish.

The

" face " of

the tank is too small, and it requires more than d uble the. number of stock to make the same display that a rectangular tank of the same capacity would make.

Mrs. A. If you wish to breed goldfish with a view to profit, our advice is to begin with one pair or with one set (two females and three males) of only one variety. Everybody needs some practical experience until he can expect to be successful at anything. This is especially the case in Buy one or two year old fish breeding. fish, get these to spawn, raise the young, and next fall when you find that your experiment was successful, buj' two or three choicer varieties and breed from these next This, we find, is the least expenseason. sive J.

and surest way

W.

F.

—A

more inches

to success.

cjdinder, twenty-four or

and three inches higher than the depth of the water, made of galvanized wire netting, { inch mesh, and painted with asphalt paint, will make a good iuclosure for gold or paradise fish in a lily-tank.

in diameter




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