AND HOW TO USE IT. 99 



Fungi with water, which is requisite in the determination 

 of the arrangement of the spores upon the branches. Hence we 

 find the best plan is to lay the Fungus upon a slide, apply a cover, 

 then add a drop of spirits of wine {sp. Vin. red.), and afterwards 

 a little water to the edge of the cover. When thus wetted, the 

 spores may be more or less removed with a wet hair-pencil, when 

 the ends of the branches will become perfectly distinct. In exa- 

 mination of the dried smaller Fungi, as the Sphcerice^ the capsules 

 should be macerated for a time in water. The softer Fungi are 

 very difficult of preservation in the entire state ; but the sections 

 or minute structures may be mounted in chloride of calcium or 

 glycerine. The harder and drier Fungi may be preserved by dry- 

 ing and gentle pressure between coarse, absorbent paper. They 

 may then be glued to pieces of paper and labelled, in the same 

 manner as the flowering plants. Specimens of the capsules — as of 

 the Sp/icericE, etc. — may also be mounted in the dry state, the asci 

 being preserved in the chloride of calcium or glycerine, in which 

 liquids most of the smaller Fungi will keep extremely well. 



Higher orders of the Vegetable kingdom. — A few choice spe- 

 cimens only are described. The spiral vessels of plants can, 

 in many instances, be obtained by boiling the stem of the plant 

 for some time in water. Those of rhubarb are very large, and 

 may be selected for examination. The spiral vessels in leaves 

 may be beautifully shown by allowing some coloured fluid to enter 

 them. If the stalk be placed in the fluid, and evaporation from 

 the surface of the leaf be encouraged by exposure in a warm 

 place, the fluid will enter the vessels. If the carmine fluid (see 

 Part III.) be used, the germinal matter of the cells near the 

 vessels is stained at the same time that the tubes are injected. 

 Thin sections of soft vegetable tissues in any direction may be 

 very easily obtained with a very sharp knife. The method of 

 cutting thin wood sections is as follows : — Various woods and 

 other vegetable textures of a certain degree of firmness may be 

 cut with the aid of the hand-microtome. A piece of wood, after 

 having been allowed to soak for some time in water, is placed in 

 the well, and kept in position by the side-screw. Upon turning 

 the lower screw, the wood is forced above the brass plate. A 

 clean section may now be made with a strong, sharp knife or 



