PLANT DISEASE EXHIBIT CASES.* 



Leo E. Melchers. 



Recently the writer had occasion to prepare various sets 

 •of plant disease exhibit frames or cases for county and state 

 fair exhibition purposes. Numerous types of trays, boxes 

 and frames of various shapes and sizes have been given a trial 

 by the writer, but the type to be described in this article, 

 appears to be the most practical and serviceable for exhibiting 

 specimens other than those which must be preserved in jars. 

 In order to meet the requirements which are essentially neces- 

 sary for an attractive, but still serviceable plant disease exhibit 

 case, the following things must be taken into consideration: 



1. The exhibit must withstand rough handling in shipping 

 or otherwise. 



2. The size of the shipping boxes or trunks in which the 

 cases are packed, must comply with the compulsory regulations 

 of railroad companies, if one wishes to take them along as 

 baggage. Boxes or trunks beyond a certain length will not 

 be accepted by railroad companies. 



3. One person should be able to handle these frames 

 without difficulty. 



4. They should be constructed of light material, but still 

 they must be durable. 



5. Glass should be avoided on account of its fragility and 

 weight. Celluloid is more satisfactory. 



6. The frames should be constructed so as to withstand 

 stacking in a box or trunk when shipping from place to place. 



7. The case should be of a size which will accomodate two 

 types of specimens: (1) entire cereal plants; and (2) fragments 

 of plants, such as leaves affected with spots, cankers on limbs 

 or twigs, etc. 



8. They should be deep enough to accomodate such 

 pathological specimens as cankers on limbs; but, on the other 

 hand, so designed that they will satisfactorily accomodate 

 ■cereals, leaves, etc. 



9. They must appear neat and attractive. 



10. The cost of construction should be reasonable. 



"Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas. 



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