RIVER GARDENS; 



arrange plenty of drainage where you plant your 

 Perns, bits of charcoal, sharp sand, or rotten 

 leaves have been recommended by Mr. Hibberd and 

 others. The water must be prevented also from 

 running in constantly to the roots ; a certain de- 

 gree of dryness about the root is essential to Perns, 

 and your Pern-ground must be constructed accord- 

 ingly. 



As a general principle, the water-plants do not re- 

 quire much, if any, soil ; as water is to them, as pre- 

 viously stated, what earth is to terrestrial ones, and 

 the bed of the stream or pond only serving them as 

 anchorage. Nevertheless, some plants, especially 

 the "Water Lilies, apparently require a somewhat 

 strong soil to grow in. Plants of this class are, 

 however, too large for most Aquaria, though it 

 is stated that the Nuphar lutea may be grown in a 

 vessel one foot square. 



When the Aquarium has been furnished with 

 its plants, with snails to destroy the confervoid 

 growth on the glass, and to consume decaying 

 vegetation, at the same time furnishing a vast num- 

 ber of eggs to nourish the fish and other animals 

 in the tank, a complete circle of compensating prin- 

 ciples may be said to have been established which 

 impart to an Aquarium many of the permanent 



