FIELD AND FOREST. 47 



not expect to get the fish to spawn if no plants were in the pond. I 

 asked him to allow me to place six plants in the pond, and was allowed 

 to do so, and placed the following six plants : one Valisneria spiralis, 

 one Water-soldier, two Water-lilies, two Anacharis, all in plant-pots 

 surromided with rockery to keep them steady. Some time after I vis- 

 ited the pond, and found the plants growing most beautifully, particu- 

 larly the Anachai'is. I did not see the pond again for some months, 

 when the gentleman sent for me, and we visited the pond together. 

 I found the pond full of young gold-fish. There were thousands of 

 them. We got a dip-net, and thinned them out for a minute : the 

 gentleman did not like to destroy them in that way, so another large 

 pond was built and the fish were thrown into it. Thousands offish 

 have been given away from these ponds. The Anacharis plants when 

 grown too large should be taken out twice a year. When the plant has 

 grown too long, nip off some of the young sprouts, and place them in 

 some fresh earth in pots, to replace the old plants, which may be 

 thrown away. This plant grows very fast. I would not recommend it 

 for a very large pond or sheet of water, as it will soon choke it up, 

 unless swans are kept there. Those birds feed on it, and thrive well. 

 I think our aquarium tanks are too small for the spawn of gold-fish to 

 come to anything. I kept a large tank for twelve years, and never 

 got any young gold-fish from their spawn, after trying all sorts of ways. 

 To keep the gold-fish healthy in the aquarium you must only give 

 them a small fly or a small red worm ; if you can get enough plants of 

 Valisneria, do not place in any others. Above all things do not give 

 the fish biscuit, bread, or meat, as it will cause a disease in the fish. 

 The fish like a little gravel at the bottom. They take it in their mouth 

 occasionly; it does them good, and cleans the mouth of the fish. — A. 

 J. R. Sclater, in Science- Gossip. 



The House-Fly. 



The following paragraph from Science- Gossip is interesting, but 

 should be taken cmn grano salis : 



The familiar house-fly is apt to be considered an unmitigated pest. 

 It is therefore time to call attention to some recent investigations of a 

 chemist, which go to bear out the pious axiom that everything has its 



