108 



THE AQUARIUM, APRIL, 1894. 



The angles on the bottom and those at 

 the uprights, but not the upper hori- 

 zontal ones, are next filled with cement, 

 as was done when 'the bottom glass was 

 placed, and the lights are then set in 

 place, using gentle force to malie a 

 uniform fit. Two wooden sticks 

 (braces) are then placed across from 

 one to the other to hold them in posi- 

 tion, then the surplus cement is re- 

 moved and the glass again wiped clean. 

 Our next move is to measure the dis- 

 tance between the two lights just now 

 set, as the two end lights should fit 

 snugly, but without any strain, against 

 them. Double-thick French glass is 

 best suited for these, and the edges that 

 will meet the other ghiss should be clean 

 cut. We then proceed to set them as 



Plain Frame, with Rustic Decoration. 



described above for the others. After 

 two or more days, according to the sea- 

 son or weather, the cement has suffici- 

 ently hardened and the tank may be 

 filled with water. 



For the small tanks above mentioned 

 we find fifteen by seven and one-half 

 inches, by eleven inches height (all in- 

 side measure), the most desirable size. 

 The frame is in this case made by a 

 tinner, out of galvanized sheet iron, 

 bent into right angles and soldered at 

 the corners. The bottom in this size is 

 made of double thick Pittsburg glass, 

 set as well as all the other glass, which 

 should be double thick French, on the 



same principle as in the larger tank 

 described above. 



Do not attempt to make an aquarium 

 out of wood ; in nine case out of ten 

 they are a failure. Neither take out- 

 side advice regarding the size of the 

 tank. Some one will tell you that, " if 

 you make it such and such size the 

 glass will cut to better advantage, etc.,'' 

 but an inch or two out of the way one 

 way or the other makes a very big dif- 

 ference in the appearance and also in 

 the welfare of your collection. 



These are the details to be observed 

 in the construction of the inner hull, 

 or the tank proper ; the outside hull, or 

 ornamental part, is easily put on after- 

 wards. This can be a simple coat of 

 paint and varnisli, or it may consist of 

 a rustic decoration of tree-bark or tuff- 

 stone, or a stylish mantel of wood-work ; 

 no rules are set for this part, and one 

 may exercise his individual taste. Re- 

 garding the stand for the aquarium, 

 however, we find that a closed pedestal, 

 for instance a little cabinet, tends to 

 set the collection off to its best advant- 

 age. ^ 



LITTLE BLUE EYES. 

 The jardiniere in which I had my 

 dwarf tulips growing all winter is again 

 the centre of attraction. The bulbs, 

 being out of bloom, were removed and 

 replaced by half a dozen small clumps 

 of "Little Blue Eyes" (Sisyrinchium 

 anceps). Dozens of bright blue flowers, 

 new ones each morning, are now the 

 delight of many passers-by who notice 

 them in my window. I collected these 

 plants myself in a pasture last summer, 

 when visiting in the country. On my 

 return home, in August, I potted them 

 in flower pots, and treated them as I 

 did my other house plants. I am de- 

 lighted with my success and hope that 

 others may try a similar experiment 

 next summer. Mrs. B. 



