A larger aquarium is of much more in-
terest. This is usuall}^ an oblong tank,
with glass sides and ends, made water-
tight. A glass plate can be laid over the
top, with a narrov/ open space, so as to ad-
mit air and keep out dust. Tlie tank
should be bedded with clean, sand}^ gravel,
which needs to be well washed, on which is
placed some kind of rock- work, with a few
chinks or crannies for retirement. These
materials should be well boiled to destroy
any undesirable growths. The plants needed
may be selected somewhat widely from
aquatic growths. Some will root in the
gravel ; others, like duckweed, will float at
large.
A few fresh-water snails are all the mol-
lusks needed. For fish, almost any of the
smaller kinds will do. The perch can be
tamed to take food from the hand. The
sticklebacks are interesting from their nest-
building habits, but they are such fighters
that it is necessary to keep them l^y them-
selves. The smaller fishes may be fed with
insects, tiny bits of meat, andl)read crumbs ;
the larger occasionally with minnows.
Worms are useful, and sometimes the only
food available. Of other aquarium animals,
the newts are pretty and interesting, swim-
ming about with their olive bodies, or some-
times basking on the rock.
Keep onh^ a few kinds of fish and other
animals together. If scum collects, clean it
off, or add another snail, which will do the
work of an extra scavenger. If the inmates
look sluggish and poor, replace some of the
water and aerate it well. See to it tliat a
good supply of insects and small worms is
put in as food ; water-fleas, small larvce,
etc., may be given freely. Take out at once
461
94
THE MODEL COOK BOOK
-xwy layo^e dead or decaying thing. If all
goes well, you need add only some rain-
water now and then, to supply the loss by
evaporation .
House Plants and Flowers.
Interesting as many of the cage-birds
and other house pets are, the window con-
servatory and the flowering plant are of
more value for home adornment, on account
of the much less care needed, and their
striking beauty when in bloom. The plants
which can be used for house adornment are
very numerous. We do not need to go to
foreign lands in search of them, for they
grow and bloom all around us. Many of
the wild flowers of our fields and forests
respond well to the loving hand of their
admirer, and the ferns which are abundant
in dell and ravine will fill up with attrac-
tive green many spare nooks in garden or
on window-shelf.
The flowers raised in pots for house use
are greatly varied in kind and character,
including the favorite rose and lily, the con-
stant-blooming geraniums, the azaleas, hy-
acinths, tulips, dahlias, and a great variety
of others, too numerous to mention. Among
them are many climbers which are very at-
tractive when given an opportunity to drape
an open space. Not only in the house, but
in any bit of ground in its vicinity, green
things can readily be kept in growth, burst-
ing into rare beauty at some time in the
year, when their period of bloom arrives.
Geraniums.
Page 117
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A larger aquarium is of much more interest. This is usuall}^ an oblong tank, with glass sides and ends, made watertight. A glass plate can be laid over the top, with a narrov/ open space, so as to admit air and keep out dust. Tlie tank should be bedded with clean, sand}^ gravel, which needs to be well washed, on which is placed some kind of rock- work, with a few chinks or crannies for retirement. These materials should be well boiled to destroy any undesirable growths. The plants needed may be selected somewhat widely from aquatic growths. Some will root in the gravel ; others, like duckweed, will float at large.
A few fresh-water snails are all the mollusks needed. For fish, almost any of the smaller kinds will do. The perch can be tamed to take food from the hand. The sticklebacks are interesting from their nestbuilding habits, but they are such fighters that it is necessary to keep them by themselves. The smaller fishes may be fed with insects, tiny bits of meat, andl)read crumbs ; the larger occasionally with minnows. Worms are useful, and sometimes the only food available. Of other aquarium animals, the newts are pretty and interesting, swimming about with their olive bodies, or sometimes basking on the rock.
Keep onh^ a few kinds of fish and other animals together. If scum collects, clean it off, or add another snail, which will do the work of an extra scavenger. If the inmates look sluggish and poor, replace some of the water and aerate it well. See to it tliat a good supply of insects and small worms is put in as food ; water-fleas, small larvce, etc., may be given freely. Take out at once any dead or decaying thing. If all goes well, you need add only some rainwater now and then, to supply the loss by evaporation .
House Plants and Flowers.
Interesting as many of the cage-birds and other house pets are, the window conservatory and the flowering plant are of more value for home adornment, on account of the much less care needed, and their striking beauty when in bloom. The plants which can be used for house adornment are very numerous. We do not need to go to foreign lands in search of them, for they grow and bloom all around us. Many of the wild flowers of our fields and forests respond well to the loving hand of their admirer, and the ferns which are abundant in dell and ravine will fill up with attractive green many spare nooks in garden or on window-shelf.
The flowers raised in pots for house use are greatly varied in kind and character, including the favorite rose and lily, the constant-blooming geraniums, the azaleas, hyacinths, tulips, dahlias, and a great variety of others, too numerous to mention. Among them are many climbers which are very attractive when given an opportunity to drape an open space. Not only in the house, but in any bit of ground in its vicinity, green things can readily be kept in growth, bursting into rare beauty at some time in the year, when their period of bloom arrives.
Geraniums.