196 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
Fic. 149a. Water CHESTNUT 
duced each year from large, hard seeds. The big, black. two-horned seeds 
sometimes sold in Chinese stores are of a closely related species of Trapa. 
Can be had of dealers after May 15. 
WATER HYACINTH 
Although Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia, is considered a pest in its 
native habitat on account of clogging up rivers and lakes, it is none the 
less a favorite with the aquarist, especially the breeder of goldfishes. Its 
long, finely divided dense roots are admirable for receiving the eggs of 
any fishes that spawn on plants. The pale purple flower-spike only blooms 
for a single day but is quite beautiful, having the general form of its 
namesake, the Hyacinth. Propagation is by runners at the surface of the 
water. Figure 150 clearly shows this. Water Hyacinths do best if 
their roots can root or drag in soil. Outdoors they do not like to be 
blown about nor to strike against the sides of a tank, although apparently 
not minding how closely they are crowded together. This plant does 
well in a warm greenhouse the year round. Unless supplied with plenty 
of light and heat during the winter they degenerate very much. 
