New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-04
AQUATIC GARDENING
THE GENTLE JOYS OF THE "SALA-
MANDERS." WHO ARE TRUE
LOVERS OF NATURE

THE DAINTIEsr FORM OF AQUATIC GARDENING
PLANTS THAT WOULD BE ADMIRED IL JAPAN
HERR Won sCTIrICHTINGs QUEER PETS
AND THEIR CHARMING SURROUNDINGS
Once a month the twenty-five or thirty members
Of the Salamander Club meet at the old Home
stead to swap ideas and experience in the manage
ment OF aquaria and terraria. and TO exchange
plants that have names out OF ali reasonable pro-
portion to their size and live things that squim'
wriggle, crawl swim. Civil Engineer Eugene
Smith who is their president. comes all the way
from Hoboken to participate In the mild excite
ment. and their secretary. Or. C. Won Deer'hg'
comes down from Melrose with an inexhaustble
supply OF Latin for any plants that may turn
up with air of being insufiicently htted ont
I'm that regard. In fact the membership Is very
widely scattered New-i ork and lis enVirohS'
Always. too. there sympathetic visitors. gen
orally scientific and professional men, who have
a lively interest I'm the objects OF the society ana
mean to become members by-and-by when they
have learned enough OF the game to take a hahd'
Formal papers special topics are sometimes
read, papers are communicated from correspond
ents abroad-this society being affiliated with
kindred ones in Europe-and occasionally some
member who has grown a surplus or "A particu-
larry desirable plant makes a general distribution
OF specimens as when few days ago. Tor IN
stance. Herr Won Schlichting gave away a pailful
OF I.udwigea Mullertn and SagittarIa natans-
rather rare plants.
In a general way. II is quite correct to assume
that a person who once learns the pleasure to be
found In aquatic gardening VIII never thereafter
willingly forego Its enjoyment and his indulgence
OF the passion Is likely to be limited only by the
facilities his command for its qualification. The
passio that far transccnds the limitations
OF fad even n hobby. II grows to b" II
sort of gentle but neradicab.e mania one pos
sessing II certainly Will II he may have spacious
ponds and basins. wherein TO delight his soul WIN
the growth of ncumbiums and nymphac Lack
Ing those he Will at II he can command the space,
contrive very enjoyable aquatic garden IN
plunged tubs and half-barrels during summer. and
for winter fiji his windows with small tanks or
bowls perhaps seek philosophicaly To content him
self with fruit Jars and bottles for even IN th'm
many things may he grown-if he can do no bet
ter. Hut who lives In the city himself ana
his belongings constituting one Of the layers IN
nat house. where every square inch of space
has its specific use-must not only forego all
thought OF an outdoor garden hat VIII need -
plan most ingeniously the utilization ~ the hitle
room at his disposal - cultivate anything To MIN
the invention OF the aquarium was GER
talnly an inspiration. In 1t he may grow
a; one time plants than can he
accommodated in pots In al his windows;
can maintain them In full beauty the year round
without regard to season and with a minimum %
trouble. and wl'hIl. may enhance th'f ht'Ii'-
lions ly the simultaneous maintenance. In tn"
nfc And in his rs indeed In most other depart
monts Of science the SEGREGATION O; one particular
branch Tor thorough development. instead o. mar
rowing the field OF study. actually opens mp pre-
viously unsuspectod vstas Of kno"l"lgr and
wilcns the area OF Interest Even w'h-inform"i
practical cuijlvators OF aquatic pants generally
rarely know half the queer and handsome sub
merged growths familiar TO aquatic experts. par
ticuarv such ones those ~ the Shlamauler.
who are constantly trading their knowledge with
aquaral enthusiasts IN other countries
Many OF the plants they value are such as only
reveal their delicate beauties - close students ~
nature would be Hale lk.lv 10 find favor IN N"
.ycs Of the Philis;lnes. ana cons quenty are not
likely 20 be made articles - common merchants"
ty dealers even such profess 10 make speciality
OF aquatic plants And 1t mas alec b" admitted th't
tho aquarium taste ls an eNp'nslv" one in ~" ont
set sufficiently II be- deterrent 20 the many "h'
might Otherwise take 81 up as "a fai ami max"
market for even unappr'r.ated uoy"itee. Just a
little aquarium barely b.g enough 20 warrant -
bearing that title wi. cost $ or g. and ior oa' 81
decent slzc-cnpablc Of holding from ten 20 twenty
gallons Of water the price viii Do 81. f5 or go or
even more according 10 The s7liifr ~ rs wrought
iron frame and th knees u i- plate glass sics AMI
ends For me larger sizes a. is safest. indeed n"ces-
sary - have specially constructed massive stands
- support their weight securely. \ good twenty
gallon one viii weigh when nii-l. about 80 pounds
Ana such a stand as IL shoull have may we'll cost
proper nllirg Of It with gravel. rockwork. plan''
and fish may 3D. run up 10 almost any figure you
Ike. even II friendly donations 81 plants help out
II You have nice fanc..s about nsh. they VIII cost
you pretty sum Herr Won Scni, htng. fJr "X-
ample has one a "fringc-tailcl" Chinese n4h with
semi iclescopic eyes a ftt body. which h. either
bloOd-rrl or Furnished gold. according as the HS"
falls on him. and wonderful %"ff ii"y I"s'i.'
tail As long all The rest OF HIN Tor wlirh o.
paid S2j in Berlin So You Sec Il yeur ianc{ mould
eegf nv u her 4
The cost Of anything be- wants for his aqnnra ~
n minor consideration 20 Herr Won Schlchtins. ana
really one cannot wonder At II seeing what harm
Ing results he has obtained for his are rro"2hy ne
handsomcs' and most comprehensive IN ne ciiy
In hs largest aquarium twrnty -kll.on one, ,hat
expensive Chinese ish - KEPT III '"'ht'i'i'' ~
six others. two OF which -" in some i'sp"7 'N'h
NOR. surprising than H.. being Chinese telescope
eyed" fish Their changeablc colofs ~" T." same
as his and quite brilliant. and they also hav"
wings that have got strangely ont OF place. bat
their distinguishing peculiarly - thrir rxaktrtat-
K tis,sk off Win Stick Thcy very lame
,b"r master to feed from his hand and he has
raised two or three broods OF their young, M d
also red and endowed with a profuson Of ihii
which is lttle yet what II viii le. for he IL
anese 'fringe-tail'' fish vcs with the Chinese one IN
the magnitude Of his nlmy str'amers all his ms
Ike hunk Of FURNISHED silver -. ,.., anal,
blue catfish Of rather uncommon bred whlcn sem
shy and seek To hide Themselves In the hoilows O"
aquarium or half burrOwing In the deep bed Or NM
siverv grave covering It's floor. Rooted in mat
gravel and spreading In rank nXurian'e through
The pcllucld water numbers of submerged pants
only a few OF which AT any tim" venture To IN"
surface IL Is little effort OF fancy TO i'm igne those
brilliant fish. playing among that NlNidly green
foliage as birds darling through the leaves OF 4
tropical Two uncommon ShHitthfIa nourlsn
here one. Saglttara natans. which has AZ present
long narrow leaves much hk" "A giant aiishsrE
snira,is- in the semi-fransucence OF which against
the ight n pretty vcinng In regular paralelograms
t. 10 be seen. but which Will In spring SEND up ON
the surface rccumbent leaves lik" rounded arrow
beads something like those OF the AponCgeton he
nthcr Sagittaria saRltu foa. Is now making b'auii
fnl rbbonllkc leaves, wider than the preceding.
Witch are very thin. wdvy and OF an expuisteIy
soft green In spring VIII project big arrowhead