The Water Star Grass (Scholleria Graminea), is a little grassy plant, producing its pale yellow flowers in summer. The growth is wholly beneath the water, the flowers only coming to the surface. The Water Buttercups (Ranunculus Aquatilis and Purshii), the former with white, the latter with yellow flowers, are beautiful aquatics. The divisions of the foliage of the former are particularly graceful and pretty, and no lover of beauty who has once grown it I would be without it. The pretty Water Violet (Hottonia Inflata) is a little gem of a plant; the leaves are curious, and the flowers rise on a stem whorled at the joints, and are at once interesting and ornamental. All the Bladderworts (Utricularia) are pretty and common plants. U. inflata and vulgaris are the most common. But we are sensible of the difficulty of giving any thing like a complete list of the many natives of our ponds and streams adapted to the aquarium. These we have mentioned are, with the exception of the exotics, to be found every where, but there are many others equally common, and no less beautiful. Our advice to the amateur is, go to the nearest pond or stream, transplant what seems to you suitable, and watch their growth and development. You will find enough to admire in what are called Our commonest weeds, for the many species of water plants have been sadly neglected, and their beauty is not appreciated. Some bloom above, some below the water; some produce foliage floating on the surface, others have it suspended in the water. New plants will give you new beauties, and you will the more reverence the power of the Creator, by the study of these, his almost unknown works. As we have before said, the great element of success is proportioning the quantity of animal and vegetable life. The usual rule is, two fish to every gallon of water, with snails to eat up any slime or refuse. If well managed, the water need never be changed. To attain this, you must use only healthy plants, and not too many of them, and have the bottom of clean pebbles and sand. If the water evaporates, it must of course be renewed, and should it become stagnant, it may be aerated by turning portions of it from one vessel to another. Of course if decay of the plants takes place, or animals die in the water, the only remedy is to empty, thoroughly cleanse all, and begin anew. The Wardian case and aquarium may often be very prettily combined by raising rock-work in the water, planting ferns, and other moisture-loving plants upon it, and covering the whole with glass. Where access to water can be easily had, a fountain in the centre might be contrived, and the effect would be most beautiful. There is, however, a water plant which will thrive very well in the parlor, and require but little care. About the middle of November, procure a large bowl, or wide-mouthed vase, or, what is better, one of those fancy stands, representing the trunk of a tree. Fill it with water, and in it set a plant of Sarracenia Purpurea, the common side-saddle flower, or pitcher plant, of our meadows. This plant is not only remarkable for its curious pitchers, but is very ornamental in flower. With this treatment it will soon begin to grow; young leaves, or rather pitchers, will be produced; the flower buds will appear, and all winter the plant will be a mass of fresh foliage. The only care is to keep the leaves clean, and to refill the bowl when the water evaporates. In conclusion, let us say, that in all the details of management there is no teacher so good as experience. In a volume like the present we can only lay down general rules. The little minutiæ, the daily care, the ceaseless routine of attention, on which success so largely depends, we cannot prescribe. Each amateur will find those rules suited to his own case by experience and practice; but we trust we have, in our limited space, said enough to urge upon all to undertake the study of water plants, and the care and pleasure of an aquarium. |