Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-11


AQU ARIUM.-The last winter, family de-
rived great pleasure from all aquarium, aud
costing but little. The directions for il NAV be
given now, because it will be all amusement to
the children TO gather materials during the sum
mer, and the earlier in the autumn 1t s started.
the prettier it will be in the winter.
Take a milk pan of about eighteen or twenty
inches in diameter at the top, ill it with rich
earth, with layer Of charcoal at the bottom and
start IL some months before the aquarium with
the wandering jew, Or some other easily grown
plants set all around the edge Of the pan, so that
they can fall over and conceal il. Into this liz
vert all ordinary glass cake cover, which can lie
procured Of any dealer in glass and crockely-
ware This should be about fifteen inches in
diameter, and the knob must set firmly into the
earth in the centre Of the pan. Put into this
glass coarse, sandy gravel, two or three inches.
In this gravel set one or two roofs of tape grass
(valesnera spiralis) some roots of water grass,
(nasturnium ofhcinalis) and the common mon
ey- plant, which grows very freely in the water.
These answer the double purpose of looking
pretty and of furnishing food and shelter for the
fish, If these are not at hand, use other plants
which love the water, and answer the same pur-
pose-such as the broad-leafed and narrow
leafed s,arwOrts, the duck weeds, the lemna
tribe, the water-weed, (anacharis canadensis)
and many others. Make your selection of fresh
water plants, letting them cover about one
and stones on the bottom of your tank In such
Iroporton as your taste dictates. Fill your
/ INK with rain water, within two or three inch
es Of the top.
The tank being thus prepared, stock it with
three or four small goldfish, (cyprinns auratus)
which thrive admirably in this way, and are
yery ornamental Add about as many piy nv
dace, Qeuciscus pygmaeus) a little fish very COM
mon in brooks. The black nosed dace are easily
found in these localities, and they give another
variety. Add few specimens of the milnow,
the sinner, and the Dream. Put In q tad pole
or two, which will be of interest to watch in
their stages of development. Also half dozen
snails.'
When the right proportions are obtained be-
tween vegetable and animal life, it will not lie
Necessary to change the water, except at inter
walls of several weeks. BY the wise law of
compensation which governs nature, the anil
NAL life absorDs oxygen; thus, by a little expert
ence they can bc adjusted So as to meet the
wants of each. A few weeks aficy the aquari.
um has been Set up, green fungus will come
out on the glass, the pebbles and the plants
II is well to remove ohy portion of this from
the glass, leaving patch Of il in one place. as 1t
serves an important purpose with plants in vi
taizing the water.
The entire expense Of an aquarium, which
answers this description is live dollars, and II
gives more constant pleasure to the children
than dozens Oh tNptnSht toNS-d plthsuib III
which their elders share very willingly.
Cape Muy.-The hotels at Cape May have
been crowded since the season commenced
Our friend and former townsman, John McAIak
In, ESQ.,, of the Atlantic, is doing a handsome
business, his house being very popular with
the public. On Thursday last there were no
less than three excursions and he was literally
overrun with visitors. With his usual polite
ness he strove TO make room for all, and his eff
forts were duly appreciated by the hungry.-
Wnmngtonians are always warmly welcomed ty
him, and on any unusual occasion his p arlors
are thrown open to them. 1t Is not surprising
therefore that he is popular with our citizens,
or that the Atlantic is their favorite place Of
sort. Our friend Il. McInall Esq, and lady, are
passing few weeks at this famous location,
and perhaps their visit wil,only terminate at the
close Of the season. McMakin deserves to make
something handsome so long as enterprise, po-
likeness and attention, are duly Appreciated
Several new hotels have been erected and 9TH
ers enlarged since our last visit, and all seem to
be doing well. Cape May Is one of the PLEASANT
est watering places in the world, and will be
popular through the hot weather, as long as tue
world stands.