If certain ettorts turn out successfully The Household Aquarium 



we will in the very near future greet a Sam'i. McClahy, 3d, M. D. 



society in Boston as well. I'hiiadciphia, I'a. 



The New York, Brooklyn and Chicago i'ltc ])roper care and niainlenauee of an 



societies are devoted to more general fields aquarium is an important factor in the 



as native fishes, terraria, foreign (mainly keejMng of all fisht;s. 



tropical) fishes, as well as the breeding of The size best suited for an ordinary 



rare or specially interesting fishes. dwelling is one containing from thirty to 



Keenly realizing tlit' benefits of associa- sixty gallons, larger ones are unwieldy and 



tion, it was felt that closer touch with the dangerous on account of weight, smaller 



work of others was needed and mutual help ones require cleaning too frefiuently. The 



could not be better obtaind, than bv ere- franu work should be of metal ; brass makes 



ating an organ of inttrconununication. an effective adormnent for a sitting-room, 



This, not only would assist the several the brass is easily polisht and has a richer 



societies but would also serve to bring into appearance than gilding or paint on iron- 



tou.di many distant but nevertheless inter- work. The aquarium should be built so 



csted persons not connected with any soci- that it has a large air surface, that is, it 



ety. The Brooklyn Society very wisely should be at least as wide as it is high and 



and generously took this larger view of preferably wider. The same quantity of 



the matter and agreed to merge their bul- water will accommodate more fish when 



letin with the present magazine. there is a large air surface than when the 



To instruct the beginner in the ])rin- air surface is small. It should not be over 



cijiles of aquarium maintenance is one of twentv inches deep, as fish do better in 



the first of our objects. Those who have shallow water in aquariums. The base 



past the beginner's stage, we wish to en- should ])e of slate and the sides of heavy 



courage in careful study and accurate ob- plate glass, so joined that practically no 



servation as well as to ])resent to them ever cement comes in contact with the water, 



widening fields of interest. We want to A good cement fornuda may be made of 



help the individual as well as tlu- societies, the following: One part of white lead. 1 



we want to assist in forming societies in part of litharge, 1 '2 ])arts of glazier's jjutty. 



other citiis, and we want to reach the libra- The best general soil is a lower layer of 



ries and especially the schools. There are pebl)les and an up))er layer of coarse sand, 



many teachers who desire to keej) atjuaria Tlie pebbles allow the roots of plants more 



for thtir classes. Init tho the generous wish freedom lo traxcl and get nutrition, llie 



he there, the knowledge is often most sand above makes a more even and ])leas- 



limited. jiig a))))earance. so that particles of food 



We want our readers to tell us of their ^^.j]] ,,„i l„.c„ine hidden in the soil and de- 



cxiieriences and of their troubles, in other (.ompose. Most plants will root well in this 



words wc want to help and also want to be ^,,j]^ t|,„j^,. t],at do iu)t may be i)lanted in 



helped. small pots of earth, and sunk below the 



No salaries or ))rofits are j^aid those who j,_.„„] -pi,,. i,,,^^ acjuarium i)lants are Sagil- 



conduct this magazine. It is a labor of laria, Cohoviha, J'alisiiariti, Liidifigia and 



love. To be successful it needs the active Poltiinogctoii . Anaclions is a good oxygeii- 



suijport of many. ator. but it grows too rapidly and soon 



Whether your interest lies in the small covers the surface, thereby occluding the 



fireside aquarium or in more ambitious un- top light which is best for the other plants, 



dertakings we need your help both in arti- SagiUaria is about the best oxygenator and 



cles and in subscriptions. most satisfactory all around plant, it 



5 



