32 



Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



in the middle of tlie room is occupied at 

 one end by a large slate-topped table 

 with a large water-bath, and at the 

 other by a revolving book-case holding 

 the standard reference works, two read- 

 ing tables, and chairs. The work in this 

 laboratoi'y is of the most practical 

 character. Each day's work is definitely 

 outlined, and reference sheets giving 

 explicit directicnis for every operation 

 which the student is expected to perform 

 are supplied. The general course of the 

 work is outlined in a general lecture 

 covering several days of laboratory 

 work. The student is taught from the 

 first the importance of a thorough 

 knowledge of the apparatus which he is 

 to use and the importance of the scien- 

 tific care and cleansing of it. The micro- 

 scopic equipment is the same as in the 

 microscopic and histological laboratories, 

 and the most of the students have had 

 their preliminary training in the use of 

 the microscope there. The research 

 laboratory (C) has a roll-top desk and 

 revolving bookcase for the assistant 

 professor, lockers, tables, stools, inicro- 

 tome table, sink, etc., as in the labora- 

 tory "A" described. There is in addition 

 a full set of incubating and sterilizing 

 apparatus, including a large autoclav. 

 The professor's room (D) is divided by a 

 partition into an office room with desk, 

 bookcases, card and specimen cabinets, 

 and tables, and a private laboratory 

 fitted up with all the apparatus neces- 

 sary for the culture and study of bac- 

 teria and allied forms. The arrange- 

 ment and fixtures are well indicated 

 in the plan. 



In conclusion it may be said that the 

 I'tmost cleanliness and order is main- 

 tained in every detail and the physical 

 comfort and health of the students is as 

 carefully looked after as is the culture of 

 germs. 



While this article deals especially with 

 the laboratories of plant and animal 

 histology, bacteriology, and pathology, 

 it should be said that excellent labora- 

 tory facilities are also offered in ento- 

 mology and invertebrate zoology, in 

 vertebrate zoology, in mineralogy and 

 petrography, in physics, and in chem- 

 istry. Naturally, however, the work in 

 those departments, except perhaps ento- 

 mology, is not so largely microscopic. 

 L. B. Elliott. 



Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1898. 



Note.— The writer wishes to acknowledge 

 his indebtedness to Prof. Gage, Dr. Moore, 

 Professor Rowlee, and Messrs. Weigand, 

 Reed, and Kingsbury for their uniform 

 courtesy and aid in securing the informa- 

 tion embodied herein. 



The March number of the Journal will 

 contain an article on mitosis, illustrated 

 with photo-micrographs. 



The Sectioning of Seeds. 



It not infrequently happens that ac- 

 curately made sections of some of our 

 most common seeds could be used to ad- 

 vantage in classes in elementary botany. 



The writer has found it very desirable 

 to kee'p in the laboratory sets of sec- 

 tioned seeds in sufficient quantity to 

 supply to each member of the class a 

 complete series. 



Such a lot of sections is very easily 

 made by ordinary methods, provided care 

 is taken with each stage of the process. 



The seeds to be sectioned, beans, corn, 

 peas, wheat, i-ye, etc., are placed in a 

 two per cent, solution of formalin and 

 kept in a moderately warm condition for 

 thirty-six hours or until they have 

 become soft. (The formalin is used to pre- 

 vent germination.) The seeds are then 

 placed in a dehydrating apparatus in 

 fifty per cent, alcohol for twenty-four 

 hours, after which they are removed and 

 allowed to remain in ninety-five per 

 cent, alcohol for two to three hours. They 

 are then transferred to a one and one- 

 half per cent, solution of collodion (one 

 and one-half grams of gun-cotton in 

 one hundred cc. of a mixture of 

 equal parts of ether and alcohol) and left 

 for twenty-four hours. After this they 

 are transferred to a five per cent, solu- 

 tion of collodion for twenty-four hours, 

 when they may be placed on the cork. 



It is usually desirable to cut a hole in 

 the top of the cork to allow abouit one- 

 third of the grain to be below the sur- 

 face. The seed should be very thorough- 

 ly and carefully covered with thick col- 

 lodion. After a few minutes the prepara- 

 tion may be placed in eighty per cent, 

 alcohol to harden. This process will 

 occupy four to five hours. The cork can 

 then be placed in the microtome and the 

 seed sectioned. Only thin sections should 

 be taken, as the resistance in cutting 

 thick ones will usually loosen the seed 

 from the collodion. 



A long, sweeping stroke of the knife is 

 necessary for successful work. Should 

 the sections show a tendency to break 

 away in places, it is only necessary to 

 fasten the parts by thin collodion spread 

 over the cut surface of the seed and 

 allowed to harden before each section is 

 made. After the sections have been 

 removed they may be fastened to the 

 slide wi'th either, stained, dehydrated 

 cleared, and mounted in the usual way. 



This method is constantly used by the 

 students in the writer's laboratory, and 

 the very best results secured. 



Of course, the harder seeds and those 

 whose coats will not soften by soaking 

 inust be treated by the *paraffin method. 



* Rowlee, W. W. ; Proc. Am. Soc. Mic. 

 1S90; p. 113. 



