64 



THE AQUARIUM, JULY, 1893. 



growing in aquariums in our sitting 

 room, the result is remarkable, and 

 shows what can be done in an aquarium 

 which is properly located. The plant 

 grows in ordinary aquarium sand and 

 gold fish and tad-poles are its com- 

 panions. 



?r^ 



Queries. 



We cheerfully answer at once, all 

 queries made in regard to Aquariums 

 or Window Gardening if return postage 

 is enclosed. 



E. H. H. — N. There are a great 

 many species of Ludwigia in this coun- 

 try ; only three, however, including my 

 own, are useful for an indoor aquarium. 

 The Polyconum is very beautiful in 

 ponds or basins, where seen from above, 

 especially when in bloom, but they 

 amount to but little indoors. 



Aquatic plants should be grown on 

 the same principle as house-plants are. 

 Small glass salve jars are excellent 'pots' 

 for them; sharp sand is most suitable 

 for them; some species, however, delight 

 in a soil consisting of two parts sharp 

 river sand and one part peat, while 

 again some prefer a heavy rich clay. 

 Water poppy (LimnocharisHumboldtii) 

 will do best if grown in rich soil in a 

 water depth of about three to eight 

 inches. Our native water plants may 

 all be grown for a short period in a par 

 lor aquarium, but most of them Avill 

 soon perish, so soon that it hardly pays 

 to introduce them into a collection. 

 The only reliable plants are those which 

 were grown under cultivation and con- 

 ditions similar to those that await them. 



It is always risky to introduce plants 

 into an aquarium that were collected in 

 creeks or ponds, as they may contain 

 the eggs of injurious insects and mol- 

 lusks, or the spores of undesirable fungi. 



Mrs. H. B.— N. 0. Putting a whole 

 or a half sheet of prepared fish-food in 

 an aquarium with the intention to 

 give the fish their weekly allowance 

 at once, can be compared to placing 

 enough fresh beef on a dinner table 

 to last for a week. It will not only lose 

 its value as food, but will also poison 

 the water. Offer your fish food every 

 day, but if they don't seem to care for 

 any, don't give them any. At no time 

 should any food remain on the bottom 

 of the aquarium; remove it by means of 

 a dipping tube. 



Mr. G. a. — L. To secure free bloom- 

 ing of Anthurium scherzerianum, 

 transplant in August and not disturb 

 it in spring. 



Mrs. N. — D. To make dahlias bloom 

 profusely, nip off the tip end in July 

 and cause them to branch out. Do not 

 enrich the soil, but keeji it well worked. 



Mrs. R. — C. Place your rubber- 

 plant out doors where it is shaded from 

 the hot sun. If there is no danger of 

 its getting stolen, leave it out doors 

 over night. Rubber plants delight in 

 night air. Never let it suffer from 

 want of water. 



A second aquarium society has been 

 formed in New York city since the 

 last issue of The Aquarium. Its 

 name is ''Salamander." Dr. A. von 

 Duering was elected president and Mr. 

 H. V. Letkemann secretary. The 

 " Salamander " had an exploring excur- 

 sion to Bronx River Park for its mem- 

 bers May 31st, which was well attended. 



