THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. 



77 



scare or shock which their nervous sys- 

 tem experienced. Excited animals con- 

 sume oxygen faster than it can be sup- 

 plied; the consequence is that a chemi- 

 cal process takes place in the blood of 

 the fatigued animal which is called 

 '^ self-poisoning " (Autointoxication). 

 This is what causes the " haut-goAt " in 

 game, so much admired by gourmands, 

 which really is nothing less than the 

 beginning of decomposition in the liv- 

 ing animal. 



Goldfish traveling in insufficiently 

 aerated cans long distances, are as 

 much fatigued and scared as is a 

 stag in a chase by hounds. Weaker 

 individuals die first of suffocation ; 

 the stronger ones linger longer, their 

 gills become inflamed, and these 

 finally die of consumption, while others 

 have their interior structures disar- 

 ranged by innumerable minute sores. 

 No visible sign indicates this terrible 

 condition, except that the victim moves 

 slow, appearing very tired. At last, 

 these little sores unite in one or more 

 larger ones and open outside of the 

 body, generally along the back of the 

 fish, or they appear as a white mould 

 at the base of the fins, destroying their 

 structure, when death soon relieves the 

 poor sufferer. 



Fish that are intended for pleasure 

 or science should be handled gently and 

 carefully at all times. And since we 

 all agree that only healthy fish, that 

 have no fear, are fit objects for our 

 hobby, dealers should see their interest 

 in supplying their customers with no 

 others. 



If The Aquaeium does not reach 

 you in proper time, you will oblige the 

 publisher by informing him of the fact, 

 and a duplicate copy will be mailed to 

 you at once. 



FREESIAS. 



In the ever-lengthening list of win- 

 ter-flowering bulbs which the enterpris- 

 ing florists yearly place before the 

 flower-growing public, there are none 

 which j)roduce sweeter or more truly 

 beautiful flowers or give more satisfac- 

 tion than the Freesias. Nor are there 

 any of the winter-forcing bulbs that are 

 more easily grown, and in consequence 

 of these combinations of desirable quali- 

 ties one continues to cultivate them . 

 year after year having once made their 

 acquaintance. 



The stems branch freely, producing 

 several clusters of flowers, which make 

 up very gracefully in bouquets and 

 other floral work, their beautiful forms, 

 exquisite colorings and delicious per- 

 fume rendering them highly suitable 

 for these purposes, as well as for win- 

 dow garden decoration. Another ad- 

 mirable point in their favor is their 

 keeping quality, for when cut and 

 placed in vases of water they will keep 

 perfect for two weeks, the buds open- 

 ing as well as if kept on the plant. 



One author, in writing of the merits 

 of this beautiful flower, says truly : 

 "The Freesia seems to have been de-, 

 signed by nature for wear in a lady's 

 hair, at her throat or breast, or in the 

 button-hole of the ruder human being. 

 Six or eight florets, trumpet-shaped, 

 one to two inches long, appear close 

 together at the end of the stem, but 

 instead of being clustered they grow in 

 a row. The stem bends at a right angle 

 just where the first floret appears, so 

 no matter how carelessly the stem is 

 thrust into coiffure, dress or button- 

 hole, it hangs as if on a hook, and 

 makes the greatest possible display of 

 its bloom. Two or three sprays of the 

 Freesia worn at a party or theatre will 



