24 THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
to keep animals in such vessels, they would still be aecept- 
able for the formation of aquatic gardens. 
Beauty of form and adaptability to confinement are the 
requisites for this purpose, and the more lakes and rivers 
are explored, the more the botanical department of the aqua- 
rium will be extended, both as to ornament and usefulness. 
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STRATOIDES ALOIDES. 
Water Soldier—Among the plants easily attainable, 
and which combine grace of outline with cleanliness of 
growth, and tendency to create oxygen, I can recommend, 
first of all, the famous water soldier—~Stratoides aloides— 
a lovely cactus-like plant, which grows equally well with 
or without a root, as indeed most water-plants do. In 
form it closely resembles the tuft of herbage on the crown 
of a pine apple, and its leaves have similar serrated edges. 
If thrown in, it floats on the surface, and puts forth new 
