THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE, 53 
born in summer, in addition to the others, take after the mother 
in shape and upright tendency, with a more delicate texture ; 
the flowers are borne on an upright stem and have the size of 
a silver quarter-dollar. It is a very free bloomer and delights 
in sharp sand, being in bloom from May until November. One 
plant, growing in an ordinary parlor aquarium with an eastern 
exposure, produced seventeen perfect spikes of flowers in suc- 
cession in one season. Such a record is hard to beat by any 
plant. It should be grown in glass pots (salve jars) for easier 
handling and better protection of its large root system. 
Many other aquatic plants exist, but not every one can be 
grown with success in an aquarium. Its nature requires con- 
ditions that we cannot supply, or its growth is so rank that 
its faults outweigh its virtues. In either case it is not excluded 
that we may introduce such a plant for an agreeable change 
as a short visitor; often just such plants are at certain occa- 
sions, when a certain effect is aimed for, invaluable. But all 
plants collected in open waters should not be introduced into 
a collection until they have been quarantined in a special ves- 
sel for at least a week, as they may bring disease or other 
trouble into your collection. 
