Journal of Applied Microscopy. 233 



construct cheap and yet durable rack and pinion attacliments ; it is much better 

 to have good sHding tube stands than shaky or hard-working rack and pinion 

 instruments. A good tine adjustment is essential, and here again there is much 

 to be desired in most low-priced stands. Makers should seek simplicity and 

 durability here also, since a defective or worn-out fine adjustment is exasperating. 



On the tables there should be conveniently placed bottles of a few reagents 

 and stains, those less commonly used being kept on a shelf at the side of the 

 room. The bottles should be broad-based and as low as possible. The stopper 

 should be of glass (with some exceptions, as in case of potassic-hydrate bottles), 

 but very good work may be done where perforated cork stoppers (each contain- 

 ing a small glass tube) are used. 



A good razor, scalpel, forceps, dropping tube, several dissecting needles, one 

 or two sable brushes, a supply of glass slips and cover glasses (I prefer 19 mm. 

 circles) several slide boxes (" Pillsbury " boxes are inexpensive, but troublesome), 

 a high-grade drawing pencil (Faber HHHHHH, or its equivalent), an eraser, 

 and a laboratory note-book containing loose perforated sheets of drawing paper 

 (I prefer sheets about 10x24 centimeters) should be purchased by each student 

 for his own use. These will cost from $3.50 to $4.00. 



The foregoing outfit, which will enable the student to do what we may call 

 elementary laboratoiy work, must be enlarged if more advanced work is contem- 

 plated, by a supply of imbedding material, paraffin baths, paraffin ovens, bottles, 

 tube vials, bell-jars, beakers, shallow dishes, and other glassware, one or more 

 microtomes (the latter so inade as to " ribbon " the sections), and a much larger 

 assortment of reagents and stains (of the latter I prefer those made by Gruebler 

 of Leipzig). 



Management. — With the foregoing summary statement of the outfit of a botan- 

 ical laboratory, what shall be its general management ? Here I may be per- 

 mitted to base my suggestions upon an experience with a large number of students 

 of all grades, from those with a minimum of previous training, to graduate stu- 

 dents with from four to six or more years of laboratory training. 



The laboratory should be an " open " room, to which those who are working 

 in it should have free access. Eor many years it has been my practice to keep 

 my laboratory door unlocked from 8 a. m. to (3 p. m. for six days every week, and 

 to endeavor to make every student feel that he has a right to work as often as he 

 wishes. Of course each man has his regular hours when he is expected to be 

 at work, just as he is expected to regularly attend lectures, but over and above 

 this I have found that many a student enjoys, seldom abuses, the privilege of 

 dropping in for an extra .hour or two of work when the spirit of botany moves 

 him so to do. A laboratory assistant is present at all times during the day, so 

 that the student coming in at odd times always finds some one who can render 

 any required assistance. As a result of this practice it is never necessary to 

 " keep hours " upon students, for the spirit of work so increases with the free- 

 dom allowed that such a thing as shirking is practically unknown. On holidays, 

 when the laboratories are supposed to suspend all work, the assistants are always 

 met with requests from students for permission to work. 



That each student should have his own place in the laborator}-. and use but 



