Evening star., 1933-08-28

But no one, not even the most learned
ichthyologist, knows much about these
fishes.
The principle of the balanced aquar-
ium' is only some 60 or 20 years old, or
thereabouts. and there yet remains SO
much to be learned that the more one
experiments the surcr he becomes that
little is really known.
That is why, above all. that there is
no more interesting hobby right now
than the home aquarium, and why any
one interested in nature can step right
into it. and, within year, know as
much, or almost as much, as those who
have been studying the problem for a
quarter of century.
This comes about because life, as a
subject. eludes us, no matter what our
pretentions Latest scientific studies of
aquarium water showed that old-time
fanciers were right when they insisted
on cherishing "old water" but nobody
knows even yet why they were right
The subject of fish foods Is all up in
the air, nobody knows how much to
feed. or just why. but everybody pours
in little food and hopes for the best,
and the fishes eat it and hope for more
X X
When 1t comes to fish diseases auuar-
lists are more at sea than any place else
There are a few standard treatments,
but whether they will cure is another
matter, and why they cure, when they
90, lew profess to explain, and when
they do 1t is mostly hokum.
What amazes most amateurs, in re-
gard to fish diseases, is the tenacity
with which the average fish can hang
onto lie, after 1t is plainly manifest
That 1t has no chance
Perhaps it is not for nothing that.
HE originated in the sea If the ocean
IS the home OF life, as we know it, it
PROBABLY possesses certain elements
winch give great vitality to its inmates.
certainly this poor fish in yonder
aquarium might seem to have gone to
the happy swimming grounds a long
time ago, but it floats, fins folded. ewes
pathetlc-yeS, sick fish'S eyes show
suffering as plainly as our oWn-its
head down. Its gills work convulsiveIy,
and its hour seems to have come, but
day after day 1t hangs on. Life refuses
to give itself up. If in an aquarium
with certain fishes. these will slyly nip
itS ms, While in with more gentle mates
1t Will give up its life in peace. Bit
alter wnat a struggle! One must pause
IN silent admiration of the power and
force manifested here in a little bit
OF life now clearly marked for extinc
ton. but hanging on as If determined
never to let 60
In the garden We work with forces
almost equally unknown. at bottom,
Much has been learned, enough to per
NIT the mighty agricultural triumphs
OF civilization, the same civilization
which. alas, finds nothing better to do
with Its surplus food than to destroy il
But as highly as agriculture is or
ganized, SO much yet remains to be
discovered as to how plants grow. and
why they grow, that mankind is some
thlng OF piker here, as elsewhere if
ne oares to compare his little knowl-
edge. as adequate as it may seem to his
everyday needs. with the huge sum of
possible knowledge before him,
The professors. the experts end the
books all can tell you precisely what
TO do to attain certain results. but when
you. in your home garden. attempt To
achleve those results. something is likelv
to go wrong, and that something" of
course, If you are to believe the pro-
lessons, the experts and the books. is
always and solely you, never them. But
We may wonder as we consider similar
results, achieved in different ways in a
multitude of gardens.