20 Fresh Water Aquarium 



pages, we can now begin the planting. Most 

 of the aquatics are very brittle and easily 

 bruised, and wounds caused by pressure upon 

 leaves and stems never heal, but usually 

 cause the rotting away not only of the in- 

 jured parts, but also of branches and leaves 

 coming in contact with them. It is there- 

 fore advisable to remove everything that is 

 not healthy and intact, as well as loose 

 leaves, adhering soil and other occasional 

 impurities. From three to six stems should 

 then be carefully fastened together with a 

 soft thin band of tinfoil, the weight of which 

 will keep them in the proper position, that 

 is, stems down and points up. To prevent 

 the shifting of the plants by the larger in- 

 mates of the aquarium, the stems can also 

 be planted in the gravel, where they will 

 promptly root. Some of our aquatics have 

 bulbs, and these will have to be planted 

 about an inch below the surface of the 

 gravel. If properly selected the plants will 

 rapidly grow and spread, and for this reason 



