48 



THE AQUARIUM, APKIL, 1893. 



Ls^^fo Queries 



Mr. M. J., Cin., 0. -There are sev- 

 eral aquatic plants that resemble Val- 

 lesneria spiralis at first sight. V. sp. 

 has brilliant green leaves (blades) about 

 one-quarter of an inch wide, keeping 

 the same width from the root to the 

 top. These, under favorable circum- 

 stances, attain a length of over four 

 feet, but they never grow erect above 

 the water. At a close inspection these 

 ribbon-like leaves will be found bor- 

 dered with deeper green, giving them 

 the appearance of a silk ribbon of two 

 shades of green. The flowers appear 

 in July on a spiral stem above the 

 water and at night time, when they are 

 fertilized. This spiral stem contracts 

 after that and draws the flower down 

 to the bottom, where the seed ripens. 



The V. sp. is a native of Northern 

 climes, and its foliage disappears with 

 the approach of cold weather. It pro- 

 pagates through seeds and stolens or 

 sets. 



Sagittaria natans, S. New Era, and 

 Juncus fluitans resemble V. sp. very 

 much at first sight, but ouly at first 

 sight. The submerged leaves of S. n. 

 are blades, but always more or less 

 tinted with silver, bronze or crimson ; 

 they terminate into a sharp point, 

 while those of V. sp. are blunt. The 

 floating leaves of S. n., which appear 

 during the warmer season, are oval in 

 shape, sometimes nearing an arrow 

 shape, and speckled with black. The 

 plant blooms in day time ; flowers and 

 seeds are altogether different than those 

 of V. sp. It is a tropical or sub-trop- 



ical plant and keeps on growing and 

 flowering all the year round. 



J. fl. is a Northern plant, which re- 

 sembles V. sp. much more than the 

 preceding, especially when young ; the 

 blades are of a uniform green color, 

 ribbon-like when submerged, but with 

 the approach of warm weather they 

 stand upright above the water. It is 

 known as false Vallesneria. Like the 

 real V. sp. it too dies down during 

 winter. There are several other plants 

 that resemble V. sp. in their early 

 stage of development. 



Mrs. 8. — You can have specimen 

 plants for your unfavorably located 

 aquarium in a reserve tank, and in this 

 expose them to strong sunlight or to 

 shade, and to a warm or cool tempera- 

 ture, just as wanted. Thus you can 

 regulate the coloring of the foliage or 

 forming of flower buds, and have them 

 at hand whenever you want them for 

 an extra fine display in your aquarium. 

 In this regard aquatic gardening likens 

 parlor gardening — certain plants have 

 to be sent to the greenhouse occasion- 

 ally, to attain high colors or for the 

 formation of new buds. 



Mrs. J. S. P. — A healthy aquarium 

 in a warm room, exposed to a strong 

 light, will turn green very rapidly. 

 What you want for your aquarium are 

 tadpoles and snails to eat away the 

 algae growth when in its first stage, 

 and secondly a more shaded position. 

 Remove your aquarium about twelve 

 to fifteen inches towards the room and 

 close the shutters when the sun shines 

 against it, or cover the side of the 

 aquarium that faces the window, with 

 blue paper. Also add a pinch of table 

 salt to the water. You need not be 

 alarmed about your fish, as such an 

 aquarium is very healthy, although not 

 very attractive. 



