196 



GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 



Fig. 149a. Water Chestnut 



duced each year from large, hard seeds. The big, black, two-horned seeds 

 sometimes sold in Chinese stores are of a closely related species of Trapa. 

 Can be had of dealers after Alay 15. 



WATER HYACINTH 



Although Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia, is considered a pest in its 

 native habitat on account of clogging- up rivers and lakes, it is none the 

 less a favorite with the aquarist, especially the breeder of goldfishes. Its 

 long, finely divided dense roots are admirable for receiving the eggs of 

 any fishes that spawn on plants. The pale purple flower-spike only blooms 

 for a single day but is quite beautiful, having the general form of its 

 namesake, the Hyacinth. Propagation is by runners at the surface of the 

 water. Figure 150 clearly shows this. Water Hyacinths do best if 

 their roots can root or drag in soil. Outdoors they do not like to be 

 blown about nor to strike against the sides of a tank, although apparently 

 not minding how closely they are crowded together. This plant does 

 well in a warm greenhouse the year round. Unless supplied with plenty 

 of light and heat durins: the winter they degenerate very much. 



