RIVER GARDENS. 



CHAPTER, I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



(Y the culture of some of our most beautiful 

 fresh-water plants, in glass Aquaria, many 

 of the wild beauties of Nature, in some of 

 her most pleasing and interesting aspects, may be 

 wrought into attractive decorations for our ordinary 

 living rooms, with very little trouble or expense. 



But this is not the chief object of such Aquaria. 

 Their formation has been suggested by the dis- 

 covery that the growth of aquatic plants will main- 

 tain the water, contained in such a vessel, in a 

 state of purity sufficient for the healthful existence 

 of all kinds of animal life of which water is the 

 natural element. By means of an Aquarium, there- 

 fore, the forms and habits of fish, reptiles, and 

 aquatic insects may be made to develop themselves 



