Leaf 



SECTIONS OF FREE MATERIAL 



01 



Chapter 28 (V 21.3), wliore are ftivon 

 formulas and methods whicli may l)e used 

 to attach individual sections. Sections 

 which are not attached to shdes must he 



transferred from one fluid to anotlier witli 

 the device known as a section lifter, wliicli 

 is merely a small flattened sheet of metal 

 held in a wooden handle. 



Typical Examples 



Preparation of a Transverse Section of the Leaf of Ligustrum 



The leaf of the privet is, in the opinion It is necessary to have a hand micro- 



of the writer, the easiest biological speci- tome of the typo already desci'ihed, an old- 

 men from which a section maj' be pre- fashioned luuul razor, some freshly picketl 



Fig. 35. Inserting a leaf into a split cylinder of carrot. 



Fig. 36. Cutting a hand section. The razor is drawn across the plate with gentle pressure 

 and the section then washed into a stender dish. 



pared and is included in this place as an 

 introduction to the art of cutting sections. 

 The leaves should be collected in sum- 

 mer and stored in a jar of 90% alcohol 

 which must be changed as often as it be- 

 comes diluted from the extracted water or 

 discolored by the extracted chlorophyll. 

 If large quantities of alcohol are used in 

 the first place it will be unnecessary to 

 change it, but it must be agitated from 

 time to time to avoid the accumulation of 

 water at the bottom. 



carrots, and a stender dish of 70% alcohol. 

 The razor shown in the illustration (Fig. 

 35) is flat on one side and hollow-ground 

 on the other. This is the best kind for hand 

 sectioning, but if it is not obtainable a 

 double hollow-ground razor may be used. 

 Next take a coi'k borer of such a size 

 that it will bore out a cylinder which will 

 fit reasonably well into the holder of the 

 microtome. Then (Fig. 35) cut from a fresh 

 carrot as many cylinders as are required. 

 A leaf is then trimmed until it is the same 



