AQU 



C 59 ] 



AQU 



cular tank in the centre, and the corners 

 filled up with eight small tanks, in which 

 are grown one plant of a kind of other 

 five-stove aquatics. A walk runs round 

 the central tanks, and that walk is entered 

 by a short one from each side of the 

 square. A walk, too, is formed into each 

 corner ; and a walk runs close along the 

 front, thus forming the small tanks 

 alluded to above. The diameter of the 

 central tank is 33 feet, which will give 

 us some idea of this truly noble aquarium; 

 but very few cultivators will choose to go 

 to the expense of erecting such a house. 

 The following are aquatic stove-plants : 



Aponogeton angustifolium. 



distachyon. 



monostachyon. 



Arum venosura. 

 Cyperus alternifolius. 



papyrus. 



Damasonium Indicum. 

 Euryale ferox. 

 Limnocharis Humboldtii. 

 Menyanthes Indica. 



ovata. 



Nelumbium speciosum. 

 N3'mphaea caerulea. 



pubesecns. 



pygrmea. 



rubra. 



stcllata. 



versicplor. 



Philydrum lanuginosunit 



Pistia stratiotes. 



Pontedera crassipes. 



cordata. 



dilatata. 



Sagittaria lancifolia. 



obtusifolia. 



Thalia dealbata. 



Victoria regia. 



Propagation and culture. Being all 

 herbaceous plants, they are to be propa- 

 gated as these generally are. Some are 

 raised from seeds, which, in general 

 should be sown as soon as ripe, and the 

 pots plunged in shallow water. When 

 the plants corne up, they may be trans- 

 planted into other pots, and shifted as 

 they advance in growth, till in a pot of 

 sufficient size to admit their flowering 

 which will generally take place the same 

 season. Instead of being kept in pots 

 the plants may be inserted in a bed o: 

 earth, on the bottom of the aquarium 

 Keep the water warm, say from 70 t( 

 75 in summer, and leave them nearl) 

 dry in winter. Nelu'mliitm spedo'sum 

 requires a water heat of 84. 



Cyperus, Papyrus, Nelumbium, Nym 

 phoea, Limnocharis, Hydrocharis, Sagit 

 taria, and Pontedera, will furnish variet 

 enough. 



Aquarium for hardy Aquatics. For this 

 choose the lowest part of your garden; dig 

 out the soil or clay to a moderate depth ; 

 it may either be of a regular form, as a 

 circle or oval, or irregular, which latter 

 we prefer, with a bay in one part, a jut- 

 ting promontory in another, a shelving 

 shore here, and a steep bank, covered 

 with shrubs, at another point. However 

 small the piece of water may be, a little 

 good taste and judicious management 

 will have the best effect. Having formed 

 Lie shape by digging out the soil to the 

 equired depth, from two to three feet, 

 tie next point is to make it hold water. 

 ?here is nothing better than clay for 

 his purpose : it will require preparing 

 o make it retentive of water. Take a 

 mall portion, say a barrow-load, and 

 hop it into small pieces with a sharp 

 pade. If it be dry, add a little water to 

 t ; then, with a wooden hammer having 

 long handle, beat it well till every part 

 s of a uniform consistency, having the 

 ippearance of clay dough. Spread this 

 m the bottom of the ;pond, about six 

 nches thick. Proceed with mixing up 

 and beating barrow-load after barrow- 

 oad till the bottom is entirely covered ; 

 then either puts on a pair of wooden- 

 soled shoes,-or go on it with naked feet; 

 the last is the best way. Tread the pre- 

 pared clay firmly, closely, and evenly 

 iown. Do this well and properly, and 

 the bottom will never leak. As soon as 

 that part is finished, mix and beat more 

 clay for the sides. With the spade, as 

 soon as it or a portion of it is ready, dab 

 t against the sloping bank, commencing 

 at and joining it to the clay bottom.. Ay 

 soon as this is done, beat it with the 

 wooden hammer- firmly against the bank. 

 If you have plenty of clay, eight inches 

 will not be too thick for the sides. Re- 

 member^ the more firmly the clay is 

 beaten to the sides, the better it will hold 

 water. The clay must be quite pure; 

 that is, have no stones or other matter 

 left amongst it. If there are any such 

 left, they will serve as conduits for the 

 water to escape by, and all your labour 

 will be in vain. Proceed with adding 

 layers of clay upward, until you reach 

 the level xpu intend the water to be. 

 Carry the clay -puddle two or three 

 inches higher,' level the natural soil 

 down, to it, and let this soil be two 

 inches or more higher than the clay. 

 This will prevent it cracking away from 



