26 
the COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, April 13, 1S58. 
PLANTS IN BLOOM DURING MARCH, 
| OUT OF DOORS, AT KEW. 
Ranunculace.e. —Hepatica triloba, II. triloba caerulea. 
Crucifera?. —Thlaspi latifolia, Arabia alpina albida, Au- 
brietia deltoidea, A. deltoidea purpurea. 
Leguminosie.— Orobus verrius, O. llaccidus. 
DrupaciE/E.—A mygdalus communis, Primus divaricatus. 
Boraginaceae. — Nonea lutea, Pulmonaria grandiflora, 
P. rosea, P. officinalis alba, P. officinalis maculata. 
Oleace.e.—E orsythia viridissima. 
SAXiERAGAOEie. —Saxifraga crassifolia. 
Labiate. —Rosmarinus officinalis. 
Yiolaceal —Yiola collina. 
Scrophulariaceal— Yeronica cristagalli, Y. micrantlia. 
Amaryllidace/E.— Narcissus propinquus, N. compressus, 
N. cupularis, N. nanus. 
Liliace.e.—P uschkinia scilloides, Gagea lutea, Ilyacintbus 
orientalis, H. orientalis aureus, Scilla bifolia. 
Iridacea:. —Iris persica, I. tuberosa, Sisyrincliium gran- 
diflorum. 
THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 
i 
! 
The impression conveyed to my mind, on the perusal of 
the remarks on “Sea Flowers,” from the pen of “S. II.,” 
in The Cottage Gardener of March 9th, was, that his 
experience of the management of the marine tank extended 
over only a very limited period ; but, from a second article 
(March 23rd), on “Stocking the Marine Tank,” I find he 
has devoted a period of more than three years to this study. 
I am, however, of opinion, this has taken more of a theo¬ 
retical than a practical turn; for, after all, he remarks that 
some of his animals, Sagartia cmguicoma to wit, “ has one bad 
habit: it will frequently let go its foothold, and lay prostrate 
on the pebbles, so that the slightest agitation of the water will 
spin it into some crevice among the rockwork.” This is, 
indeed, a bad habit, and the more so, if the means for cleansing 
the tank are to be after the fashion recommended by “ S. II.” 
Surely, any such violent commotion of the wuter must be 
inimical to the perfect management of the whole affair; one 
great desideratum is to have the water of the most sparkling 
brilliancy. Taking the water up a jugful at a time, and dash¬ 
ing it back, must be prejudicial to this effect, as well as to the 
health of the animals themselves. The verity of the old adage, 
‘‘ that the proof of the pudding is in the spending,” will hold 
good in this case; and although my experience lias extended 
only over a period of about eighteen months, I have never 
had to contend with the animals becoming detached from 
their foothold, and with a simple mode of removing the 
exuvifo throwm off by the animals, I have met with very en¬ 
couraging success. I shall be pleased, if from a description 
of the plan I have pursued, for the removal of any refuse 
ejected from the animals, in lieu of the “violent commotion,” 
any of yoim aquarium readers should pursue this interesting 
study with greater zeal and facility of management. 
As soon as I discover any deposit, or sediment, I take a glass 
tube about half an inch in diameter, and two feet in length, and 
pressing my finger tightly over one end, I put the other end to 
the sediment (during this time the confined air prevents the 
admission of the water into the tube) ; I then, for a moment, 
remove my finger, and suddenly water and refuse matter rush 
in, and by tightly replacing the finger, I am enabled to remove 
all contained in the tube to a dripping-glass suspended over 
the tank, with a piece of sponge firmly fixed into the hole, to 
filter the water; at the same time I add sufficient water to 
supply the evaporation, and re-adjust the gravity bead. In 
my tank, containing about twenty-five gallons of water, I am 
able to keep upwards of a hundred specimens in perfect 
health, without artificial food or other aeration. I have lost 
specimens of Anthea cerens, and other very delicate varieties, 
if I have only made the water turbid, by removing or altering 
the position of the rockwork; but the most tender kinds 
seem to appreciate the adoption of the plan with the glass 
tube. It requires to be practised about once in a week or ten 
days. It produces a slight motion on the water which, with 
that kept up by the evolutions of a few prawns and peri¬ 
winkles, is generally beneficial. 
S. II. observes that “ Sagartia Lei Us bears the most 
perfect resemblance to a flow r er ; this and Bunodes clavata 
require the water to be kept very pure. A few days neglect 
of the vessel may result in their death, and the general 
breaking up of the collection.” My stock contains both va¬ 
rieties, at least twenty specimens of bellis, it being my greatest 
favourite, and best calculated to endure a life of confinement. 
Some have been in my possession for eighteen months, and 
have been kept in the same water; after taking up suitable 
positions, they have never removed; by the time they had 
been in the tank six months they gradually erected them¬ 
selves on their slender stems, some of them now raising their 
lovely disks at from two to three inches from the rock to 
which they are attached; and, to the casual observer, 
bearing a close similitude to a delicate fungus. They ex¬ 
hibit the most beautiful and fancied tinting; the best spe¬ 
cimen, I believe, being obtained on the south-western coast. 
The choicest specimens I have were supplied me by Mr. Ring, 
of Torquay, of whom, also, I procured three varieties of the 
delicate Corynoctis. These latter are considered very rare, 
and I have never seen them in any collection, except those 
derived from the same source. Although I am residing many 
miles from the sea, it has in no way militated against my 
success; having imported, at starting, about thirty gallons of 
sea-water, I surmounted the greatest difficulty.— £. 
[We shall be obliged by the communication of the further 
results of your experience.— Ed.] 
A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF POTATOES. 
{Continued from page 399, Vol. XIX.) 
Foetyeold. —This is an old-established favourite : a very 
good early variety. About sixteen years ago, while living at 
the Marquis of Camden’s Wildernesse Park, I remember this 
variety was a great favourite. It was extensively cultivated 
there, and produced enormous crops. It is a smooth, round, 
mottled Potato, of good size, excellent boiler, and not over 
luxuriant haulm. 
British Queen. —This variety is called by some the 
White Fortyfold. It is an early round white variety, good 
cropper, middle size, tolerable even eye, and moderate haulm. 
I do not consider this a distinct variety. 
Purple Ash-leaved Ridney. —This variety is an enor¬ 
mous cropper, very large tubers, smooth eye, moderate haulm. 
When boiled, yellow, close, and waxy; not good flavoured, 
but a showy Potato for exhibition. 
Red Ash-leaved Ridney. —This is a much better 
flavoured variety than the above, tubers not so large, and in 
some soils a bad cropper, eye even, with dark short haulm. 
This variety, in consequence of its colour, looks well when 
exhibited in a collection. 
Ash-leaved Ridney. —This variety scarcely requires any 
comment, being well known to nearly every one; but there 
are now many varieties of the so-called Ash-leaved , some 
much better croppers than the old original varieties, so that 
it is difficult to get the true one. It is one of the very earliest 
and best for frame culture ; good flavoured while new, vexy 
short haulm, and should be encouraged to sprout before 
planting. 
Early- American, or American Seedling. —This variety 
resembles the British Queen, not quite so early, but is equal 
to it in every other respect. 
Prince oe Wales. —I believe sent out by Mr. Wheeler, 
of Gloucester. I have only grown this variety one season; it 
is a very excellent variety, something in appearance like the 
Farly Oxford ; very early, productive, good boiler, rough 
skin, moderate size, and not a strong grower. 
York Regent. —This very highly esteemed variety is the 
best for general crop ; but the difficulty is to get it true. 
As a proof of the excellence of this Potato, I need only say it 
is preferred at the principal club-houses to any other variety, 
and always maintains the highest price in the market. It is 
a good cropper, tolerable good, eye, moderate haulm, excellent 
flavour, very white and mealy when boiled or baked. 
Scottish Champion. —This variety resembles the above ; 
is quite equal in every respect; and, in some soils, a very 
productive variety. Other varieties of Potatoes have been sold 
by the above name. In consequence of the high price it 
