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Show joto to $abe a ibuamtul JUjuanum GOLDFISH are as much of an attraction at-traction for the outdoor garden as they are for the indoors during the winter. One may have them In a pool If he is fortunate enough to have one ou his place, and there arc all kinds of qoaiut outdoor aquariums. The care of the aquarium is the same wherever it is. Here arc some directions direc-tions which if followed will insure keeping the goldfish happy and in good I coDditiou. Wash the aquarium carefully, dry ! 1tli a soft cloth aud polish with tissue I paper The best light is obtained I I j through a north window, but this is not absolutely necessary Should a south window lie i, -ill place the aquurium so that it does not dire tl face the light. Wash the sand under a tap of running water nnd stir with a stick until the water washes up from it perfectly clear. Spread it even over Uf bottom of the aquarium in a depth of ohoiit two inches; it should do damp, but uot so wet that the water floats ou ; tae top. Handle the aquatic plants very care-fdly, care-fdly, as they are always exceedingly I brittle. Make n groove in the sand with the Wis dip tube, in w hich place the roots f the plants. Where no root is visible the bare stalk. Anchor them with "Bull stones placed ou the root, and ttc-n replace the sand over the stones Ud press it down sufficiently to pre-Ttit pre-Ttit the water from uprooting the P'ants, but not hard enough to stop the i filiation of sap. "ith Sagittaria natans and kindred Plants proceed in the same manner, only divide the roots into two brnuches poiut-in poiut-in different directions, making corre-i corre-i p8""1'" -" ' ' 111 sand. These p,an,J look well near the front glass f the aquarium. Press the ornament urtnly in the sand at the back of the Qunrium. A very pretty effect is pro-Weed pro-Weed by placing the roots of some of the ingest sprays of plant under the ornament (tipping it up a little for that Purpose) aud then pressing11 it firmly down to keep the plants in position b'--u the aquarium is filled. Allow the prays to droop gracefully user the ornament orna-ment I so small pitchers of drinking (not fil-I fil-I ft W;it"r l'l:"'f' 3""' left hand, with ! tte Palm up, near the sand, pour the water gently over it so that it trickles down without disturbing the roots or washing up the sand. Keep jour hand always just above the water, and continue con-tinue until the aquarium is filled to within two inches of the top. Sprinkle the bottom of the aquarium with small, clea.i pebbles, by dropping then) carelessly in. W nil the glitBS dip tube can-fully disen tagle and float the leaves and stems of the plants, and when the water has had time to settle and partly clear, remove any broken pieces of plant or loose leaves with the net. The floating plants may now be placed on top of the water. Have the temperature of the water in the aquarium about the same as that of the water m which the fish arrive. Catch them, one at a time, in the net, placing your left hand over it to prevent their jumping out and lay them gently in the water. Do not pull the snails suddenly off the sides of the vessel in which they are s.nt. Tap it gently several times and they will fall off. As the water evaporates add more from a pit-her which has stood in the room and let the water full In with a splash to aerate it. This will be necessary once a month. The all but dosed class bowl which so many persona seem to regard as the only kind of aquarium in existence is being ( largely superseded by others of more J o en character, which arc better for the I fish nnd quite as decorative. Shallow open glass bowls in ornamental iron Stands arc very effective and may be j placed outdoors, where the sun is not i too hot, with ferns and other foliage ( growing about the base, or they may be placed on tables on the porch or in the i summer house. The oblong aquariums are suitable for j many situations nnd have the advantage 1 of being capacious for the fish and adapt- i cd for fitting up with plauts, shells and j other thintrs. Some of the glass aquariums are paint- i id mi the outside with floral, aquatic or ( conventional d uns. A woman who has ' I little .--kill with the brush can do this 1 for 1" r-' II". Let the children make little aquariums for themselves this summer in the country coun-try and fill them with minnows, tadpoles or anything else they can find. It will afford instruction as well as diversion ' for them. Their aquariuma may not be j so aesthetic, but they will be interesting. |
