42 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
ate experiments to show that the develop- 
ment of the yeast plant is an act correla- 
tive to alcoholic fermentation, and in like 
manner the growth of vibriones may stand 
in correlation to putrefactive decomposi- 
tion. 
Ehrenberg considered them animals, 
A, Euplotes (patella): b. side view of ditto; c, 
Styloiiichia. 
and fancied he detected in them a plural- 
ity of stomachs ; but the vegetable theory 
is the more probable, at any rate of the 
species under our notice, which is often 
seen, though not always so minute. 
At this time two interesting animalcules 
were very plentiful — the Euplotes patella, 
and StylonicJda, both remarkable as ex- 
hibiting an advance in organization, which 
approximates them to the higher animals. 
In addition to cilia they possess styles, 
which take the place of the limbs of more 
elaborately-constructed creatures, and 
give a variety to their means of locomo- 
tion. The Euplotes is furnished with an 
oval carapace covering the upper surface, 
which in different individuals, and pro- 
bably at different ages, exhibits slightly 
varied markings round its margin, which 
in the specimen drawn above consisted of 
dots. They can run, climb, or swim, and 
exemplify a singular habit which several 
of the infusoria possess, that of moving 
for a little time in one direction, and then 
suddenly, and without any apparent 
oause, reversing it. If the reader is fond 
of learned appellations, he can call this 
diastrophy, but we do not know that he 
will be any the wiser for it. 
The Stylonichia are oval animalcules, 
surrounded by cilia, and having moreover 
a collection of styles, both straight and 
curved, the latter called uncini, or little 
hooks. They swim steadily on, and then 
dart back, but not so far as they have ad- 
vanced, and may be seen to keep up this 
fidgety motion by the hour together. 
Pritchard tells us Ehrenberg found that a 
single animalcule lived nine days ; during 
the first twenty-four hours it was devel- 
'Oped by transverse self-division into three 
animals; these in twenty-four hours 
formed two each in the same manner, so 
that by self-division only (without ova), 
these animalcules increased three or four- 
fold in twenty-four hours, and may thus 
produce a million from a single animalcule 
in ten days. Such are the amazing powers 
of reproduction conferred upon these 
humble creatures, powers which are fully 
employed when the surrounding circum- 
stances are favorable, and which, in the 
aggregate, change the condition of large 
masses of matter, and bring wuthin the 
circle of life millions upon millions of 
particles every minute of the day. 
Cultivating the White Water Lily. 
IN the superbly kept gardens of Europe, 
the aquarium or tank for water plants 
is an important feature, and adds greatly 
to the beauty of the grounds. But even 
where the premises are small a well kept 
water tank, on a much larger scale than 
the ordinary parlor aquarium, is a very 
pleasing object, and we have many attrac- 
tive plants which would render them very 
interesting and beautiful— for example, 
the arrow head, the calla and others. 
Many of our readers will ever hold in 
remembrance the sweet fragrance of the 
white water-lily, so common in every clear, 
quiet country pond. If they only knew 
how easily it could be cultivated", we be- 
lieve that very many of them would pre- 
pare and be quite as proud of their water- 
lilies as of any other of their floral pre- 
mises. The roots may be easily obtained 
from the dealer's and "sent by mail, packed 
in damp moss. The roots should be kept 
constantly moist until planted. 
To do that take an old tub or barrel 
sawed in two, that will hold water, set it 
either on top or in the ground, one-third 
filled with a mixture of garden soil, sand 
and well-rotted manure. The roots should 
be set in this mixture, and water added in 
small quantities, so as not to disturb the 
earth until the tub is filled. Very soon 
the handsome round leaves, four or five 
inches in diameter will make their ap- 
pearance and fill the tub. The loss of 
water by evaporation should be made good 
from time to time, and ere long the 
blossoms will appear and delight every- 
one with their beauty and fragrance. 
Care should be taken not to allow the 
annual increase to crowd the vessel, or the 
floral display will be diminished. The 
pure white flowers will be as perfect and 
beautiful and fragrant as the camellia, 
closing at night and opening in the morn- 
ing. The bloom of lilies thus trans- 
planted are generally a little smaller than 
in their native pond, but this is an advan- 
tage rather than an objection. 
