Dei ane NEEE pees ae ee ers Meningie Fe MAP 







THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 211 
Many of the fern-like mosses found growing on the rocks in 
damp places in the woods, or the swamp cowslips or vio- 
lets, or the delicate plants of sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), 
or some of the kinds of arrowheads (Sagittaria), do per- 
fectly well if planted in a very small quantity of soil upon 
this top stone. Our native pitcher plant (Sarracenia pur- 
purea), and the red cardinal plant (Lobelia cardinalis), 
seem especially adapted for this purpose. If we take the 
former plant up in the fall and keep it growing upon the top 
stone until March, it will then begin to throw out its buds, 
and, before long, blossom most curiously. The latter plant 
seems to do best when taken up with the buds just appear- 
ing, and it will last long enough in flower to repay one for 
all the trouble of transplanting it. Various other means of 
beautifying the top stone may be adopted. If we wish a 
smali collection of tropical ferns, and have room enough, we 
may cover them with a glass shade and have a diminutive 
Wardian-case, forming a part of the aquarium. 
t is the custom with many to make a mound of marine- 
shells, or of coral, in the centre of the tank; besides being 
dangerous to the water from the difficulty of getting them 
perfectly clean, they seem quite out of place, not only be- 
Cause they are foreign to fresh water, but because it seems 
that the aquarium should be a place for living, not for dead 
Specimens. It is far better to avoid putting in any shells, 
Wever beautiful they may be in the cabinet. Having com- 
pleted the rock-work, and washed every stone carefully as it 
'5 put in, the plants are next to be attended to. In fresh- 
Water plants we have for the most part to deal with the dif- . 
ferent shades of green, while in salt-water plants the colors 
are varied and brilliant. ^ There is, however, this advantage 
T fresh-water plants, that almost all of them will grow well 
CONS properly managed aquarium, while only the very green 
ones of the salt-water plants are likely to flourish under the 
“ame conditions. One great drawback to the growth of 
.. "quarial plants is the change of the water from a higher to a 

