THE TEACHING BOTANIST 



nearer the ideal student's microscope than any other 

 that I know of. If a less expensive one is necessary, 

 the nose-piece can be omitted, and there are other 

 stands and combinations by the same maker. Instru- 

 ments of corresponding power are supplied by other 

 makers. Those of Zeiss are usually considered the 

 best of all, but they are also most expensive. Those 

 of Leitz are thought by many to offer a good resultant 

 between cost and quality. All foreign makes of micro- 

 scopes and other instruments may be imported by col- 

 leges and schools free of duty, and to meet this the 

 chief American firm, Bausch and Lomb, offer special 

 discounts from their list prices to those institutions. 

 It does not pay to buy a cheap microscope, and 

 nothing less than a firm stand of the continental pat- 

 tern, with two objectives, two-thirds and one-sixth 

 inch focus, and two eye-pieces, should be accepted, 

 and a nose-piece is well worth its cost. For such 

 an instrument $20 or more must be paid. It is 

 better to have a few of this grade than more of a 

 poorer sort, and in buying from any other than the 

 firms of recognized worth, it is better to seek the 

 advice of some specialist. In the laboratory the mi- 

 croscopes should be kept in lockers, especially if there 

 is one to each student, or they may be kept on the 

 laboratory tables under glass bell-jars, or even in 

 their cases when there is but one to a seat. Like 

 other laboratory apparatus, they should be loaned for 



