AQUARIUMS. 273 



oiighly cleaned once a year, little other attention need 

 be given them. 



The fish should be fed regularly once a day ; while 

 bread crumbs and similar food will answer, they will 

 thrive best if fed upon earth worms, flies, or bits of raw 

 meat. Care should be taken that no more is supplied 

 than will readily be eaten by the fish, or other animals 

 in the tanks. With the above attention, in a room at a 

 temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees, there will be little 

 trouble in keeping both animals and plants in a healthy 

 condition, and much pleasure can be derived from them. 



WARDIAN CASES. 



When one desires to grow exotic ferns, and the more 

 delicate plants, in the living rooms, some means must be 

 employed to preserve an abundant, even supply of 

 moisture, and to keep the dust from them. One of the 

 simplest devices is known as a Wardian case. This con- 

 sists of a shallow box, of any desired size, say 3 by 18 by 36 

 inches, lined with sheet lead or zinc, and covered either 

 with a glass shade or a glass box of the same length and 

 breadth as the base, and with a bight of perhaps eighteen 

 inches. The framework for the glass can be of any 

 light wood, fastened securely together. The cover itself 

 should be removable, to provide for watering and venti- 

 lation. The bottom box can be made ornamental if one 

 prefers, but the glass top will present the best appear- 

 ance, if in some simple and neat style. 



The soil for filling the box should contain a large 

 amount of sand and leaf mold, and for some plants a 

 generous supply of peat is advisable. If properly sup- 

 plied with water when first filled, it will need but little 

 more, as it condenses upon the glass and runs back to 

 the soil. Among the best plants for a Wardian case are 

 the more delicate of the tropical ferns and selaginellas, 

 marantas, peperomias, dracaeuas, crotons and both foli- 

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