28 AQUATIC PLANTS 



for filling will also prevent any considerable disturbance of the plants. 

 The aquarium should be allowed to stand at least a day before the fish 

 are introduced, but a week would be better, so that the plants may 

 become established and active in time to be of real use to the fishes. 



Some aquarists use a thin sprinkling of powdered sheep manure in 

 the sand just below the plants. Like the little girl with the curl, when 

 the results are good they are very good indeed, but when they are bad 

 they are horrid. The bad results— mainly the fouling of the sand— are 

 probably produced by an excess of the fertilizer. Hence the writer 

 hesitates to recommend this plan to the general public, although it can 

 be very stimulating to plant growth. Where the vegetation has not 

 prospered in favorable conditions of light, etc., it might be well to try 

 the fertilizer method. If the water is clouded for a week or two after 

 planting, it will do no harm. 



There is simply no end to the possibilities of arrangement and 

 planting effect in the aquarium. Miniature boulders, natural bridges and 

 grottos of stone form charming settings for plants. All stones should be 

 free from sharp edges which would be liable to injure the fishes. 



Worn stones, arranged to imitate the whims of Nature, will be 

 found much more satisfactory and appropriate than any silly mermaids, 

 submerged castles or other misplaced bric-a-brac. 



SAGITTARIA 



This plant in the three described species comprises the most important 

 group of aquarium plants. It has not the commercial importance of 

 Cabomba, because the latter is convenient to use in small bunches in 

 the "fish globes" seen everywhere, but to those who plant in real aquaria, 

 Sagittaria receives first consideration. 



It is a plant with bright green slender leaves of grass-like form, 

 so that it is popularly referred to by aquarists as "grass." It takes its 

 name from the arrow-shaped summer-leaves which stand above the water, 

 Sagittarius being the sign of the archer in the Zodiac. The white flowers 

 are the shape of miniature cups, with yellow centres, standing above 

 the water. Although seeds are formed, the principal means of reproduc- 

 tion is by runners. Small tubers or corms are also formed among the 

 roots, particularly in crowded situations. These produce plants. 



Aquarium-grown Sagittaria plants are the more desirable, but unfor- 

 tunately there are not enough of these to go round. Consequently we 

 have to largely depend on wild plants, which to some extent have to be 

 naturalized. The wild plants usually have very few and very short roots. 

 Obtain aquarium-grown plants if possible, and from healthy aquaria. 



