■^ 



THE 



AQUARIUM 



light will strike it. Plants need sun- 

 shine. In niid-summer, if the sun is 

 strong, the tank can be protected by 

 means of green tissue paper fastened to 

 a light wooden frame. This can be 

 placed behind the aquarium, when the 

 sunlight is too strong. Too much sun- 

 light will burn the plants. A little 

 observation will determine this. Usually 

 there is not enough sunlight except in 

 mid-summer. 



The question which frequently arises 

 is, "How many fishes can I keep in ray 

 aquarium?" This question cannot be 

 answered satisfactorily off-hand. The 

 best way for the beginner is to com- 

 mence with two or three fishes. When 

 the plants have rooted and begun to 

 grow, more can be added, a few at a 

 time, until you have reached the limit 

 of your tank. This can best be judged 

 by the actions of the fishes. When they 

 suck air at the top either the water is 

 foul or there is a lack of oxygen. If 

 you are satisfied that the water is pure, 

 you have too many fishes or too few 

 plants. The condition should be 

 adjusted. 



Later, when you desire to keep more 

 fishes in your tank, or tanks, for many 

 of us have a number, you will have to 

 aerate the water by means of a pump. 

 We won't take up the subject of air 

 pumps as that is a side issue, and more 

 in line with the advanced worker. No 

 doubt there will be articles on this sub- 

 ject from time to time in the magazine. 



We have gotten along in this series of 

 articles to where we have selected our 

 aquarium, equipped it with sand and 

 plants, and are ready to select our 

 fishes, and learn something about their 

 care, feeding, breeding and raising of 

 the fry. This will be left to subsequent 

 articles, as the writer has been limited 



as to space, and has already over- 

 stepped his allowance. 



Before leaving the subject of equip- 

 ment, allow me to caution the reader 

 against putting shells, corals, sharp 

 stones or ornaments in the tank. It is 

 questionable from a standpoint of good 

 taste, but more important is the danger 

 of your fishes tearing their fins on the 

 sharp edges. We have already mention- 

 ed that such things make lodging places 

 for decaying food, dead snails, etc. 

 (To be continued.) 



Tlio fourtli iirticle will consider tbe selection of the 

 goldfish for the aquai'iuni. 



The Genuine and the Counterfeit. 



We have none too many books per- 

 taining to nature. Indeed, could the 

 habit of reading them be more gener- 

 ally induced that publisher who would 

 offer extra inducements for their writ- 

 ing would be a philanthropist, for that 

 way lies health and medicine of spirit 

 and much needed relief from life's fret- 

 ful fever. Nature, in this sense, is the 

 great mother of us all, and happy is he 

 who does not wander too far away to 

 sometimes relish in a homecoming. 



Those who produce nature literature 

 are of two kinds — the genuine and the 

 counterfeit. The latter is one who with 

 a pale, reflected knowledge of nature, 

 uses it as a peg on which to hang fine 

 writing. The former has his unmistak- 

 able traits, and is known ol all his 

 brethren. If he is permeated to the 

 core with love of the all-mother; if in 

 his communion with her visible forms 

 she really speaks to him a varied lan- 

 guage; if, under her spell thoughts are 

 liberated and inspiration gleams, then 

 the fact will out, no matter what the 

 style of expression. — The Indianapolis 

 Neii^s. 



