April R, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



279 



Myriaphyllum verticUlatum. There is a species of Conferva 

 found in rapid streams attached to stones that is an excellent 

 aerator, valuable especially during the winter when other 

 plants do not flourish. If you have the Anacharis remove all 

 its decayed stems and leaves, wash it clean, and arrange in 

 groups of ten to fifteen. Make a hole in the sand, insert 

 the root end of the 

 plants, and secure in 

 this position by press- 

 ing small stones about 

 them. Insert in this 

 way about six to eight 

 groups, and be careful 

 to make them secure 

 at the bottom. Boots 

 are not necessary, as 

 the cuttings will soon 

 send out fine white 

 rootlets. Now fill up 

 the tank with water 

 to within IJ inch of 

 the top. Wait two or 

 three days before in- 

 troducing the fish, that 

 the plants may have 

 time to commence 

 growing. 



The Fish. — Almost 

 any small species of 

 fish may thrive in the 

 aquarium ; but we 

 think the best for the 

 purpose are the red- 

 bellied minnows and 

 sticklebacks, all found 

 in small streams. Se- 

 lect small fish ; from 

 four to eight for a tank 

 holding from eight to 

 twelve gallons. Such 

 a tank will support 

 four small ones better 

 than one larger. In- 

 troduce also ten or 

 twelve water snailH. 

 The Lymnte are the 

 best ; yet the Planorbia 

 and the Physa are in- 

 teresting. Better, how- 

 ever, have a few of 

 every kind you can 

 find in the ponds and 

 stagnant pools in your 

 vicinity. They feed on 

 the softest parts of 

 aquatic plants, and do 

 not exhaust the oxy- 

 gen mixed with the 

 water, for they are air- 

 breathing, and have to 

 come to the surface to 

 take in a supply of air 

 to be used while they 

 go about cleansing the 

 plants and glass of the 

 tank with their curious- 

 ly-constructed jaws. 



Food.— The best food 

 for the fish are angle 

 worms and flies in summer, and fine bits of fresh raw meat 

 in winter. Never give the fish more than they can eat at one 

 time, for whatever is left will injare the water. 



Position-. — The best place for the aquarium is where it will 

 be exposed to the sun at least one hour each day, in order 

 that the plants may exhale oxygen, which can only take place 

 under the stimulus of light. Too much light, however, is to 

 be avoided, as the fish do not thrive when exposed to the 

 sun, and the glass will be soiled by conferva;', a green vege- 

 table matter. In summer an outdoor position is best if 

 there be suflicient shade. It is well to cover the aquarium, 

 both for the shade and to keep the fish from leaping out of 

 the tank. 



Clkansino the Aqtjaeicm.— It well balanced with plants, 

 fish, and fhells, the water will remain sweet for an indefinite 

 time. We have an aquarium that has been in service for the 

 last twelve years, and which does not require a change of 

 water oftener than once or twice a year, and then only to renew 

 the sand which becomes filled with excrementitious matter. 



Amphibiocs Animals. 

 — If lizards, frogs, or 

 other amphibious ani- 

 mals are introduced, 

 they should be pro- 

 vided with some sur- 

 face above the water 

 to climb upon. The 

 rocks may be built 

 above the water, or a 

 piece of flat cork may 

 be allowed to float 

 upon it, on which the 

 animals will climb. 



Gold Fish may be 

 kept tenor twelve years 

 (their average period of 

 existence) by using the 

 following precautions : 

 1st. Allow not more 

 than one fish to two 

 quarts of water. 



2nd. Use the same 

 kind of water, whether 

 well or river ; change 

 it every other day in 

 summer and twice each 

 week in winter. 



3rd. Keep cl«an sand 

 and pebbles at the bot- 

 tom, washing it oc- 

 casionally or replacing 

 with a fresh supply. 



4th. Use a small net 

 rather than the hand 

 while changing the 

 water. 



.5th. Feed with plain 

 biscuit, yolk of egg, 

 lettuce, and flies, once 

 each week, except in 

 cold weather. Feed but 

 httle at a time. Re- 

 move any crumbs that 

 may remain on the 

 surface after feeding. 



Gth. Do not feed at 

 all from November to 

 the end of February, 

 and but little during 

 the following three 

 months. 



7th. If there are 

 growing plants in the 

 aquarium water need 

 be changed but rarely. 

 8th. Keep from sun- 

 shine and in the cool- 

 est part of the room. — 

 (Nm Yorl- riralc.) 



FIf,'. 111.— AcifARirM AND FLOWER STANH 



William Austim. — 

 The obituary notices 

 which have from time to time appeared in the Journal have 

 recorded the passing away of men famed as amateurs, as f;ar 

 deners, or as patrons of horticulture; I will add a pass ng 

 tribute to one in* a more humble rank of hfe, who foi^.the 

 qualities which I shall presently alluie to was, I think 

 out an equal. But who was he ? it may be aEked 

 who had frequented our metropolitan shows will i 

 have noticed wherever my friend Mr. Turner's plants were 

 put up, busy amongst them, diving-m where others I 

 to tread," and looking at all with a critical eye, the active form 

 of William Austin. He was really only Mr. Turner s carter, but 

 I never met anyone who bad a better taste for arrangement 

 than he had, nor one who could detect any little faultinesa 



with- 

 Anyone 

 not fail to 

 ts were 

 ' feared 



