Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-08
ICG MNCSICATED.
The lnnnri um.

the Lecture room, 10 the Smithsonian lust =
tute, has become an object OF such general
interest. particularly to those Of our citizens
who have visited it, that | have Thought
il probable the accompanying letter, from
an intelligent correspondent Of the Na''onal
Intrlisencer. would prove Of use, should you
fad room to rcpublisb it, by drawing atten
ton to tie facility with which these objects
Of constant interest and attention may be
constructed aid furnished. Among the IN
hatitauls OF the one at the Institute, Is a
Ssa-hoyse, the head and neck Of which bear
a striking resemblance 10 the animal from
which it derives its name, though many are
SURPRISED t. fad il of so small a size. The
brilliant coiurs Of the tiny occupants, their
quick aud graceful movements and Divers
fed habits. ar, the sources of unendlng at,
traction, and it is By such means that We are
TO become better acquainted with the ANNA
ted existence now 80 little known 70 Us. q.
You will NOT suspect your occaslonsl cor
res puudant Of any undue leaoing to modern
tsms VT there is one with which l am 10
Occulatei. | am q thorough convert to aqua
riamtsm--rOnverted by my own experiments
| IN tue really delightful scieuce; which expe-
/ rimenIs have, 80 far, been conducted with
les, than dpilar's expense. have made my
own temporary tank, peOpled it with !Ivtng
things Of my owe collecting, and conducted
nv experiments with no other instructions
tnan tu1se incidentally picked up by my OBJ
srrvatyn AMI In mlsce.l IneOus reading. My
aquarium has become such a source OF un-
failing instruction to myself, and to certain
"b0Ra nile residents" OF my dOmlclllary ter
rItUry,' that, from pure gratitude and good
will, desire - provoke others 10 establish O
similar domestic "museum." can assure
your readers, that certain intelligent young
pers as, who call me by pleasant names, de-
sire no entertainment OF recreation 50 mucn
as All hour Or Two Of observation and CONVEX
SntIUn upon tue nature, habits, &c OF the
Inhabitants of my iwprOrised aquarium. IL
is a source of interest and delight to both
sexes aud ali ages, and Is comparatively 10
expensive, even when property constructed
aquarium is purchased of the maker. Let
me, then, give my experience to your read
crs, or, at least, couuseis founded On my ex
psrience, bow to begin Gquqrium'sing COO
nOm:caly. When some practice has been
attained. no family that can afford it will
long delay the purchase Of = proper tank
for permanent aquarium. The only manu-
t,cturer | know Of ~ the United States, Is
L ID. Builder, esq., Of Our American Mo
scum. The prices range from SO upward.
bat the demand for them is already CON
siderable.
But It is not with purchasing that am at
present concerned. seek only t. promote
the taSte f,r tnis study. The square form is
decdttIy the best for an aquar um; that is,
having four perpendicular sldes. This torn
tavOrs muah closer observation Of the con-
tents, and would recommend every purcha-
ser to select it, But any form will do for
initiation. Take common glass vase, or
sIOba, .uch one As is used for gold fish
place therein two or three pieces of rock,
one Of which should rise u iMie above the
surface Of the water, 50 as t. allow amphi-
hiOu- creatures to rest there occasionally.
Obtain small root Of any water plant
plenty of which may be found in any pond
or brook, which Tx carefully, spreading the
roots OUT on the bottom of the vase, supply
ing sufficient OF the soil t. give it nourl,h-
menr. Then cover over with pebbles to the
depth of two or three inches. A little sand
-priuked upon these is. think, an improve
ment. The sand, pebbles, and rocks must
be IceH iVaShed before being put in the vase.
| AN speaking now OF q fresh water aqua
rum, and would say that there are water
plants that do not require thus to bs rooted,
bu. derive their life from the water alone IN
which they dDat. They are the best Tor the
purpose when they can be procured. The
others will do, however, very well, As, II they
are carefully plantsd, with not too much soil,
and tie root j, well covered with pebbles and
-and, the water will not be made turbid, or,
at least. only the b st supply.
These arrangements completed, fill your
vase with water, say to three tourths It's
depth. And, to complete these hints in re
ference 10 the mechanical part of the busi
ness let me add that, until your plsut has
grown sufficiently to develop oxygen enough,
which may be three or four weeks, or more
the water in the vase should be renewed
once or twice week, according as its purity
or imputity suggests. Tais is easily done
Obtain about "a foot and u half, Or two feet
according to the depth Of your vase. Of gutta
percDa tubing, OF which make q syphon,
which every one knows how TO use. You
may always have some water at the bottom
In re pen hing it, 1t is best to use small
garden watering can, as the water 10 thus
largely oxygenated while being poured in.
And If, With small syringe, you every other
day draw out little water, and force IN the
same quantity-say the syringe twice filled
the water will be aersted, and require
changing less frequently.
From this point commences the real inter.
est Of your aquarium. You are to people
this glass house. You l. ust avoid the com
uon error Of ogercrowding it. What are
technically called tenement houses" are
not favorable TO life and health. Your vase
residenc. is small. and your means of venti-
la.iDn-of ubtainng "xygen-'nperfec', un
I'll YOUR plant L. full grown. First, yOn want
some inmates who HIl keep the hou-G clean.
Inc lre=h-watef snail j. your scaCcnger. OBJ
tain haiI a u zen OF these. Ta4s u piece OF
whalebUre, or small wire, place Of thin
muslin, Or mu.qultO ner, and q stick and
make a small landing net, such as anglers
u-e; Il very small one will answer every pur-
pose. 1T this season, watei-snaiIs are album
tant. In any brook " pond. the latter o5pe-
c,aIiy, where dead leaves have fallen, you
viii fad Scores of these Ii tie black.sheIIed
house cleaners aud scavengers. Push your
landing net under the l,aves and bring
them up. Some snaIls viii be in your MT:
-pme srr'i rlirriUv tn rho ln,ys. And ann.