1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
181 
INHABITANTS OF A SALT/WATER AQUARIUM.—1. Edwardsia veslita; 2,3. Geniaster equestrei; 
4. Cribella Oculata ; 5. Asterina gibbosa; 6. Palmipes membranaceus ; 7. Paltemon serratus. 
For the American Agriculturist.—(.Seepage 150.) 
My Salt Water Aquarium. 
feet,) in a single season, under favorable circum¬ 
stances. But few persons can get seed this- 
year; we imported a large lot, at great cost, but 
it was all called for at an early date. Those 
who can not get seed this year, should bear it 
in mind next season. We are raising all we 
can, and shall also import a good supply for 
next winter’s distribution. 
Nasturtium ( Tropceolum majus.) —This is a 
sort of trailing plant, extending 4 to 6 feet, and 
>vell calculated to cover rubbish of stones, earth, 
walls, etc. The dwarf varieties are mere bush¬ 
es. Sow at any time in June, covering one 
inch. Besides fine foliage, bright scarlet and 
yellow hood-shaped flowers; the green seed 
capsules furnish very excellent pickles. 
Canary-bird Flower, (Tropoeolum peregri- 
num,) runs more to vine than the nasturtium, 
and produces bright yellow flowers from Au¬ 
gust until killed by Autumn frosts. Sow in a 
light” soil with a sunny aspect. 
The Scarlet Running Bean, (Phaseolus 
multiflorus,) gives a showy flower and good fruit. 
It is also of rapid growth, running 10 to 15 feet 
in a season, and it is often used to cover a 
screen. Plant from middle of May to June 10th, 
half an inch deep. The blossoms frequently 
drop in hot, dry weather, but set pods in Autumn. 
Mock Orange, Balloon Yine, Sweet Peas, Pur¬ 
ple Hyacinth Bean, Fumitory (Corydalis,) Thun- 
bergia, etc., may be added to the list if not already 
large enough, all of which may still be sown. 
Century Plant on Exhibition. 
We have now, (May 11,) on exhibition at our 
office, a fine specimen of the American Aloe, 
{AgaveAmericana), commonly called the “Cen¬ 
tury Plant,” because popularly supposed to 
bloom only once in a hundred years. (This 
specimen will probably remain here until after 
June 1st, and may be seen by all who find it 
convenient to call.) It was grown in the garden 
of Capt. D. Hitchcock, near New Orleans, La., 
and is exhibited here by Mr. D. Bidwell, who 
has brought with him a number of smaller 
plants, and one very 
large one, which had 
commenced to send up 
its flower stalk, and was 
to Ikivc been exhibited 
in a glass structure. But 
unfortunately, both for 
Mr. B. and for the pub¬ 
lic, the flower stalk was 
broken by accident, in 
removing it from the 
ship after its arrival. 
This was only 6 feet high 
at the end of March, 
but had grown to 25 feet 
by April 25th, when it 
was shipped. It grew 
feet during the pas¬ 
sage. The specimen at 
our office is very fine, 
about 30 years old. An¬ 
other large specimen it 
is hoped will bloom next season, and is to be 
taken to the “World’s Fair” at London in 1862. 
The accompanying cut gives an imperfect view 
of the mature plant when in bloom, with a 
flower stem 40 feet or more in hight. In shape 
it resembles an enormous candelabrum of pyra¬ 
midal form, bearing, on the arms or branches, 
clusters of greenish yellow flowers, which are 
produced for two or three months in succession. 
It is about two years since I commenced keep¬ 
ing a salt water aquarium. Like the fresh water 
aquarium described in the May Agriculturist , 
it holds about twenty gallons of water, but 
the ends as well as the sides, are of glass. The 
principal difficulty with respect to a marine 
aquarium is the obtaining of pure ocean water, 
without which experience tells me there is no 
hope of real and gratifying success. There is 
no other difficulty, however, and there are few 
things more beautiful or more interesting than 
this miniature representation of the wonders of 
the deep. The best of all marine plants or weeds 
for the purpose of aeration, is the common sea 
lettuce, so abundant on all our coasts. It is best 
to obtain it, however, from below low water¬ 
mark, where it has been constantly submerged, 
as it must be in the tank. The small red and 
variously colored sea weeds may be added for 
the sake of their beauty and ornamental charac¬ 
ter, but they should be removed as soon as they 
show signs of decay. No sea weed that is loosen¬ 
ed from the rock on which it grew, is of any value 
whatever. It will never take root again, or veg¬ 
etate. This must be borne in mind. Plenty can 
be found, however, adhering to pebbles, oyster 
shells and small pieces of rock, and these must 
be placed bodily in the aquarium, having first 
been cleared of any small shell fish. And it 
must be remembered also that whatever water 
escapes by evaporation, must be replaced by 
pure fresh water, for the obvious reason that the 
salt remains in the tank, and the water only di¬ 
minishes. In all other respects than these, the 
commencement and general management of 
salt and fresh water tanks are the same. 
And now step with me into the conservatory 
and examine my salt water aquarium. Perhaps 
the most curious of its contents will to you be 
the sea anemones. They are not flowering 
plants, although they look as though they were. 
They are animals, properly so called. Drop a 
morsel of fish, or even of raw meat into the cen¬ 
ter of that seeming floral crown, and those count¬ 
less tentaculae will instantly close upon it, for 
there is a somewhat capacious mouth, and on the 
florescence again expanding, nothing will be 
seen of the food. Firmly as its base now adheres 
to that rock, to-morrow it will probably be at 
the other end of the tank, or half way up the 
glass side. That variegated and chequered one, 
with trunk-like tentaculaj is a native of the coast 
of England; while that one, with scarlet base 
and long white tentaculse tipped with amber, 
came from the warmer clime of Florida. Those 
shy, fidgetty, restless fellows are hermit crabs, 
the larger and more gorgeous one from Key 
West, the smaller and more soberly clad from 
Boston harbor. Those varieties of crabs, those 
shrimps, snails, and small fish of different kinds, 
are the usual occupants of every small bay along 
the coast. But there are my pets—a pair of 
sticklebacks. They have a history. 
There is now no difference of form or color 
by which the male can be distinguished from 
the female. But in breeding time they are 
as unlike as possible. Last year they made 
their nest—or rather the male made it—in that 
tuft of sea lettuce. About a fortnight before he 
commenced that operation, a deep blood color 
became visible between his scales, giving him the 
