AQU 



[66] 



AQU 



the central tanks, and that walk is en- 

 tered 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 venosum. 

 Cyperus alternifolius. 



papyrus. 



Damasonium indicum. 

 Euryale ferox. 

 Limnocharis Humboldtii,. 

 Menyanthes indica. 



ovata. 



Ne.umbium speciosum. 

 Nympnaea ccerulea. 



lotus. 



pubescens. 



pygmaea. 



rubra. 



stellata. 



versicplor. 



Philydrum lanuginosum. 

 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 come 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 of 

 earth on the bottom of the aquarium. 

 Keep the water warm, say from 70 to 

 75 in summer, and leave them nearly 

 dry in winter. Nelumbium speciosum 

 requires a water heat of 84. 



Cyperus, Papyrus, Nelumbium, Nymph- 

 cea, Limnocharis, Hydrocharis, Sagittaria, 

 and Pontedera, will furnish variety 

 enough. 



Aquarium for hardy Aquatics. ~ or 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 jutting promon- 

 tory 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 eifect. Having formed the shape by 

 digging out the soil to the required depth, 

 from two to three feet, the next point is 

 to make it hold water. There is nothing 

 better than clay for this purpose ; it will 

 require preparing to make it retentive of 

 water. Take a small portion, say a bar- 

 row-load, and chop it into small pieces 

 with a sharp spade. If it be dry, add a 

 little water to it ; then with a wooden 

 hammer having a long handle, beat it 

 well till every part is of a uniform con- 

 sistency, having the appearance of clay- 

 dough. Spread this on the bottom of the 

 pond about six inches thick. Proceed 

 with mixing up and beating barrow-load 

 after barrow-load till the bottom is en- 

 tirely covered. Then either put on a 

 pair of wooden-soled shoes, or go on it 

 with naked feet ; the last is the best 

 way. Tread the prepared clay firmly, 

 closely, and evenly down. 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 scon as it or a portion 

 of it is ready, dab it against the sloping 

 bank, commencing at and joining it to 

 the clay bottom. As 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. Remember, 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 con- 

 duits 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 you 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 



