351 



THE AQUARIUM. 



This species of plant-liouse has hitherto been met with only in establish^ 

 ments of the first order ; bat as there are many extremely beautiful and 

 singular plants which requu'e to be grown in water, and as their culture 

 is perhaps the most simple of any, we think it proper to aUude to them 

 here. An Aquarium will afford a great source of amusement to those 

 who are fond of plants, and whose avocations require their absence for 

 considerable periods, as the plants grown in it do not require to be 

 watered hke other plants, nor frequently shifted or re-potted, but wiU 

 continue to flomish for months during summer, with httle other care 

 than that of yentHation, which any domestic may be taught to do in the 

 absence of the proprietor. 



To those interested in the cultivation of this tribe of plants, the 

 following remarks may be deemed useful. The temperature should be 

 maintained from fifty-five to sixty-five degrees by artificial means, but by 

 solar heat it may be allowed to rise to ninety degrees. All aquatics 

 should be grown in pots or tubs, because many of their roots are of the 

 tuberous kind, and some of them require to be taken out of the water 

 during their season of rest. Nevertheless, these should be, dming their 

 growing season, set in a cistern of water, both to afi'ord a sufficient supply 

 of food to them by their roots, as well as to admit of the leaves of the 

 floating kinds resting on the surface of the water. 



Aquatics require the greatest possible degree of hght : a house, there- 

 fore, that presents the largest surface of glass, must be looked upon as 

 the most proper, nor should they be placed at too great a distance from the 

 glass, on which account a commodious pit or low span-roofed house is 

 the best kind of structure for the purpose. Such a house as is repre- 

 sented in the annexed diagram would have many advantages, and should 

 be constructed in the following manner. The length, as in all similar 



