172 AQUATIC PLANTS 



together with the better-known favorites. Only those plants having 

 been proven satisfactory are described, but naturally in such a large 

 range it will be found that the same conditions are not suited to all. 



It is a good general rule to select young plants. They transplant 

 better and sooner adapt themselves to new conditions. If old plants 

 are used, the dying leaves should be removed. 



Sand or Pebbles? Much discussion has been brought out as to 

 the best methods of planting, principally as to whether to use soil, 

 sand or pebbles, or whether, in some cases, planting is necessary at 

 all. Success has been attained in many ways. The author believes 

 in the use of coarse sand, either with or without a mixture of peb- 

 bles, this latter being a matter of taste only. The disadvantage of 

 pebbles is that they are likely to get into a siphon and clog it. Peb- 

 bles without sand collect dirt and food particles which cannot be 

 removed nor reached by fishes or snails. While it rarely happens, 

 fishes have been known to strangle on a pebble. There are no experi- 

 enced advocates of sea or other fine sand. It packs too hard for the 

 roots to penetrate. 



Quantity of Plants. Beginners reading of the merits of vegeta- 

 tion in the aquarium sometimes expect magical results from two or 

 three plants. The fact is that each plant makes a very small contri- 

 bution towards the desired end. It takes a battery of them to obtain 

 an appreciable result. Three sides of the aquarium should be planted 

 somewhat closely, but allowing for multiplication from such runners 

 as Sagittaria and Vallisneria put out under favorable conditions. In 

 short, there is no danger of overplanting so long as the fishes can 

 move about freely, and the view is not obscured. 



PLANTING 



Planting is usually done directly in the sand or grit. Some aquar- 

 ists prefer planting in miniature pots or special earthenware or cement 

 trays, so that when it is desired to clean the aquarium it will not be 

 necessary to uproot the plants. In potting pfants in this manner a 

 few pebbles should be placed in the bottom of the pot and then a layer 

 of soil, preferably from a pond or stream. Spread the roots well into 

 the soil and then cover with about one-half inch of sand, so that the 

 earth cannot become free and cloud the aquarium water. An inverted 

 piece of turf may be used instead of aquatic soil. As a rule, it is not 

 advisable to use any soil in planting the aquarium itself. 



The first operation in planting an aquariuin is to see that the sand 

 or grit is thoroughly clean. This can onh- be brought about by a long 



