295 



One great advantage in studying mosses is that they are always expansible 

 when put into water. Some mosses he had seen, gathered in 1680, were 

 oapable of being perfectly examined at the present time. 



He would recommend the preparation of good specimens; there would 

 always be satisfaction and enjoyment in looking at them. Always get 

 plenty of material ; many people take an interest in the same things who 

 are not able to collect for themselves. 



There were various ways of mounting ; he should mention Rabenhorst's 

 European mosses as an example of good arrangement for a collection of 

 mosses. 



For his own collection he used demy paper in single sheets, on whioh he 

 mounted 6, 8, 10, or 12 specimens. These he enclosed in covers for genera, 

 and these in stout pasteboard cases for families. With this arrangement it 

 is easy to add new varieties or new species. 



It is also an advantage to have some specimens in capsules loose so as to 

 transfer them to the microscope and observe them without any trouble, and 

 others, which are so small as to be difficult to mount on paper, can be pre. 

 served this way in safety. 



With regard to examination, a couching needle used by oculists was use^ 

 f ul ; it was possible to make transverse sections of the leaves with this, 

 placing the moss on a slip and using a pocket lens. With a double edged 

 thin blade it was easy to see where to cut, and sections of the smallest 

 leaves can be made without difficulty. The sections should be transferred 

 to the microscope in water. 



Another use for these needles was taking leaves from the stem ; after 

 wetting the leaves it is easy to transfer them to water without tearing 

 them. 



For permanent mounting he preferred glycerine jelly. All those shown 

 under the microscopes were mounted in glycerine jelly. Rimmington's 

 glycerine jelly is very pure, and well made. Immerse the moss in clean 

 water, exactly as it is desired to mount it, quickly transfer to a clean slip, 

 on which is dropped a little jelly sufficiently heated to melt it; place on the 

 cover, and there will be no difficulty in making a good mount, which can 

 be finished off with rings of gold size, and kept as long as desired. 



Mr. Ollard inquired how the moss should be dried. 



Dr. Braithwaite explained that it was only necessary to wash away the 

 sand, &c, press out the water in a folded towel, and then press quickly in 

 drying paper. 



He mentioned that at the Kew Museum they were preparing examples of 

 the British Mosses exactly as they grew, so as to illustrate the families. 



The President, in announcing the close of this series of demonstrations, 

 thought all would agree with him that they had proved most satisfactory, 

 both as to the way they had been carried out and the interest excited 

 among the members, and the Club was much indebted to the gentlemen who 

 had given the demonstrations. He asked for a hearty vote of thanks to 

 Dr. Braithwaite for his address, which was carried in the usual way. 



The following specimens were exhibited by Dr. Braithwaite in illustration 



