THE AQUARIUM, 

a triangular stem. ‘These rise to about 
twelve inches above the water level. 
After the third aerial leaf is perfected, 
the flower stalk makes its appearance, 
rising to about ten inches above the 
water where it opens its showy but deli- 
cate flowers. The individual flowers 
are larger in size than a quarter of a 
dollar ; its three petals are pure white, 
with wavy edges, the stamens being a 
rich yellow. 
The first flower spike is soon followed 
by others until late in the fall, when 
the aerial leaves shrivel up and the 
plant begins its winter growth below 
the water surface. 
One of our plants had seventeen 
spikes of flowers last season. The 
accompanying sketches were made 
from specimens in our parlor aqua- 
rium. They are growing in pure sharp 
sand, the tank being near a window 
with an eastern exposure, and is allowed 
to have some sunlight occasionally. 
The one column sketch shows the 
underwater growth (the blades) its 
mode of reproduction, the abovewater 
growth (the leaves), and the flower 
stalks of the plant. On the full page 
cut a single leaf of the plant and a 
flower spike, showing the forming fruit 
and the male flower, is represented. 
ADVANTAGES OF PHILOSOPHY 
It’s wrong to worry, I expect, 
About spilt milk. We orter 
At such times gladly recollect 
’T was over two-thirds water. 
—I, A. W. Bulletin: 
Sept ad Sasson Mca, 
A prominent feature of THE AQqua- 
-RIUM is that questions pertaining to 
the management of an aquarium or 
houseplants, are answered to its sub- 
scribers by mail. If the case requires 
it, the answer is sent by return mail. 
Single copies 25 cents ; $1.00 a vear. 


NATURE-STUDY FOR PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS. 
Nature-study, or seeing familiar 
things in a new light, is a valuable 
factor ineducation. How many people 
can explain, so that a child can under- ° 
stand, why water puts out fire, why 
some young squash plants bring their 
shells out of the ground on their backs 
and others do not; or show the differ- 
ence between a leaf-bud and a fruit-bud 
of the apple; or tell from whence all 
the house-flies come? The world is 
full of such common things, about 
which people do not inquire. Yet, 
such subjects can be made very inter- 
esting to children, and they ean be 
taken up in the schools, not as an 
added recitation, but as a rest exercise 
once or twice each week to relieve the 
monotony of the school room and later 
be made the theme for a language exer- 
cise. Here are two important faculties 
that may be brought into exercise— 
accurate observation and the power of 
expressing definitely what is seen. 
The College of Agriculture of Cornell 
University has, under the Nixon or 
Agricultural Extension bill, undertaken 
to assist, free of expense, all teachers 
who wish to introduce this work into 
their schools. All parents and teachers 
interested in this work areasked to send 
their address for more detailed infor- 
mation to 
CHIEF CLERK, 
College of Agriculture, 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
