336 



APRICOT 



AQUARIUM 



the fruit in halves longitudinally, dropping out the pits 

 and placing the halves, cavity uppermost, upon light 

 wooden trays. Breaking or tearing the fruit open will 

 not do; it must show clean-cut edges. When the trays 

 are covered they are placed in a tight compartment, 

 usually called a "sulfur box," though it may be of con- 

 siderable size, and the fruit is exposed to the fumes of 

 slowly burning sulfur, to ensure its drying to the light 

 golden color which is most acceptable to the trade. 

 The production of the right color is the end in view, and 

 different dryers regulate the amount of sulfur and the 

 length of exposure according to the condition of their 

 fruit and then- judgment of what it needs. The exposure 

 varies from half an hour to two or three hours, accord- 

 ing to circumstances. After sulfuring, the trays are 

 taken to open ground, and the fruit is cured in the sun. 

 Only a very small fraction of the California product of 

 evaporated apricots is cured in an evaporator. It 

 requires about six pounds of fresh apricots to make one 

 pound of cured fruit. 



284. Good apricot fruits, one-half natural size. 



A moderate estimate of the yield of apricots might be 

 placed at seven and one-hajf tons to the acre; extreme 

 yields are far away from this both ways. 



The. apricot is, as a rule, a very healthy tree in Cali- 

 fornia. It is, however, subject to injury by scale insects 

 of the lecanium group in some parts of the state. Dur- 

 ing recent years there has been increasing injury by a 

 shot-hole fungus, which perforates the leaves and makes 

 ugly pustules upon the fruit. Such fruit is unfit for 

 canning except the fruit be peeled, which is little done 

 as yet. It also makes low-grade dried product. This 

 fungus can be repressed by fungicides of the copper 

 c ' ass - EDWARD J. WICKSON. 



AQUARIUM. The aquarium as here understood is 

 a glass tank for live fish, plants, and the like, for the 

 dwelling-house or other suitable place. 



The aquarium should be in a place where it may 

 receive light, but direct sunlight is not necessary; and 

 to keep an aquarium in a healthy condition, Irving 

 plants in the water are absolutely necessary and 

 plants will not thrive in dark rooms'; neither will fish 

 retain their bright coloring. The square or rectangular 

 aquarium with open top affords a large breathing- 

 space or air for the fish which is another requisite, 

 and the fish will be healthier and live longer than in a 

 glass globe with small neck and orifice. Another and 

 very important factor in the aquarium is sand and 

 small pebbles. These should be washed clean of all soil 

 before placing in the aquarium. About 2 inches over 

 the bottom is sufficient. The plants should be planted 

 before filling the aquarium with water. Figs. 285-287 

 show useful window aquaria. 



An aquarium, to be in a healthy condition, should 

 contain living plants oxygenators which are as 

 necessary as food, as fish must have good air. The 

 aquarium must be kept clean. The sediment should 

 be removed from the bottom with a dip tube twice a 

 week, and the inner side of the glass cleaned with a 

 wiper once a week. Encourage the growth of the plants 

 at all seasons; admit 

 plenty of light, but no 

 direct sunshine. There 

 should also be a few tad- 

 poles and snails in the 

 aquarium. These are 

 very essential, as they 

 are scavengers, and de- 

 vour the conf ervoid 

 growth that frequently 

 accumulates on the 

 plants. In fall, give a 

 thorough cleaning and 

 rearrangement of the 

 aquarium, so that all are 

 in the best condition pos- 

 sible before winter sets 

 in. In March it should 285. A museum-jar aquarium, 

 be carefully looked over, 



and undesirable plants removed or transplanted. 

 Additions may be made or any change if necessary. 

 Following are some of the best plants to place in the 

 aquarium, all of which can be easily and cheaply pro- 

 cured from dealers who make a specialty of aquatics: 

 Cabomba caroliniana (commonly called Washington- 

 grass or fish-grass) is one of the very best oxygenators 

 and a most desirable plant for the aquarium and can 

 usually be had in quantity at any season, except late in 

 winter. It is usually sold in bunches, but after winter 

 sets in, bunches of cabomba will not remain long in a 

 healthy condition in the aquarium without care and 

 attention. Plants to be of benefit in the aquarium must 

 be living, and before these bunches of grass can emit 

 roots and be self-sustaining, the fish too often nibble 

 and disturb them to such a degree that, instead of being 

 serviceable to the aquarium, they are a positive injury. 

 Elodea, or Anacharis (water pest): there are two forms 

 of this useful plant. E. canadensis is a very rapid grower 

 and may be found in ponds in dense masses. When once 

 established, it is a pest and hard to eradicate; but 

 being of stem growth, it is not so readily grown in the 

 aquarium. The giant form is a very desirable and 

 valuable plant and can be used to good advantage, 

 making a very interesting as well as a valuable plant 

 in the aquarium. Myriophyllum spicatum somewhat 

 resembles the cabomba, but is of a darker color and 

 stronger in growth and texture. It is a hardy plant 

 and will withstand the winters in the neighborhood of 

 Philadelphia. When 

 cabomba is unattain- 

 able, this may be had 

 in good condition. It is 

 also an excellent plant 

 to use for fish spawn 

 during the breeding 

 season. This must not 

 be confused with the 

 Myriophyllum proser- 

 pinacoides, commonly 

 called parrot's feather, 

 as the latter is useless 

 as an aquarium plant. 

 Sagittaria natans is a 



286. A rectangular glass aquarium. 



very pretty strap-leaf variety of sagittaria and useful 

 for a small aquarium. But S. sinensis, the giant form, 

 is the best of all sagittarias for the aquarium, and 

 is indispensable. When planted in the aquarium and 

 allowed to get well rooted before the fish are intro- 

 duced, it can be relied upon to maintain the aquarium 



