WATBE-PLANTS. 65 



siderable damage in a meal or two. This plant does not grow 

 in all ponds and other suitable pieces of water, but where it does 

 grow it is generally to be found in profusion. However, it can, 

 as a rule, be procured in a healthy condition, during the summer 

 months, from, dealers in aquarium necessaries. 



The Water-Soldier {Stratiotes aloides) (Fig. 46) is chiefly 

 found in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, but hardly 

 anywhere else without having been specially introduced. Some- 

 times it grows in such quantities in these counties as to become 

 quite a nuisance to fishermen. Its leaves are numerous, long, 

 narrow, pointed, and serrated ; and it bears a rather large pretty 

 white flower at the end of a stalk about 5in. or Gin. long. This 

 plant, like the Vallisneria and Frog-bit, increases both by off- 

 shoots and seeds, generally the former. Its roots penetrate the 

 muddy soil at the bottom of the water,, and the whole plant 

 remains submerged during the greater part of the year, only 

 rising to the surface for a short time during the flowering 

 season. The Water- Soldier, so named from its sword-shaped 

 leaves, grows readily in an aquarium, and is very ornamental 

 there. It will flourish either planted in the sand or floating 

 upon the surface of the water. In either position it wiU 

 produce new plants. If it is allowed to float, it will require to 

 be taken out occasionally, and carefully trimmed of all dying 

 leaves and decaying matter. When the little plants, which it 

 will bear at the end of long stalks, are of a fair size, they may 

 be separated from the parent and floated in the water, or 

 planted at the bottom of the tank. This plant does not seem 

 to be a great producer of oxygen, but as it is ornamental, 

 unusual in appearance, and a furnisher of shade, it is decidedly 

 worth cultivating in an aquarium. 



The Canadian Water-weed (Anacharis Ahinastrum) (Fig. 47) 

 is remarkable both for its history in this country and for the 

 manner and great rapidity of its growth. It was first dis- 

 covered in Britain about the year 1842, and from that date it 

 has extended to nearly every part of England and Scotland, 

 growing in some localities in such profusion as to choke the 

 watercourses, endanger the swimmer by entangling his limbs, 

 and exhaust even the patience of good fishermen. However, 



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