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.
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upon
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bound, $3.50
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•'How
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its
Culture;" 108 pages,
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HUGO MULERTT,
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10c.
Publisher,
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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
;
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
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. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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