430 Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



Unless the classes are very small and the blackboard directly in front, the prac- 

 tice of writing directions or questions on this is open to serious objections. 



Some of the principal apparatus may be enumerated to give an idea of what 

 is useful. There are 30 BB. No. 4 compound microscopes, with double 

 nosepiece, |^ and ^ inch objectives, and two oculars each ; seventy-five Barnes' 

 dissecting microscopes, a small microtome, paraffin bath, and besides these the 

 usual miscellaneous outfit found in a biological laboratory. Scissors, forceps, 

 and the necessary reagent bottles are furnished on each table. 



Each room has more or less its own particular outfit, depending on the work 

 done in it. Thus, the compound microscopes, water bath, and microtome were 

 originally purchased for the zoology, but may be used in the other work. There 

 is also a set of preserved specimens illustrating the types from the sponges up. 

 A complete set of reagents makes it possible to prepare permanent mounts of 

 plant and animal tissues. For the work in botany there are bell jars, seedling 

 boxes, candy jars for storing seeds, dishes of various kinds useful in germination 

 experiments — -a set of galvanized iron trays fitting the window seats, for potted 

 plants, but also used for germinating seeds on the tables, when this work is in 

 progress. 



At present the work in physiology is done in the larger botany room. The 

 principal a'ds are : a skeleton, two sets of anatomical charts, bone forceps, saw, 

 chemical thermometer, lactometer, etc., and the necessary reagents for working 

 out the food-stuffs in many common foods. 



While the museum specimens answer well for illustrative material in zoology, 

 student contributions are encouraged both in this and the other studies, for the 

 reason that it awakens interest and pride in such a collection and valuable things 

 are often brought to light. Outside a set of Hough's American woods, our col- 

 lection for botany consists of woods, nuts, fruits, etc., given by students. This 

 year a collection of pressed, dried plants representing the local flora has been 

 begun. 



In connection with the above may be mentioned our charts (over forty-five 

 accumulated within three years) illustrating subjects studied in our courses. 

 They are entirely the work of students and are not only as clear and as good as 

 commercial ones, but frequently show artistic ability. Some of them are copied 

 from books, but most of them are from nature. For such work we select stud- 

 ents who draw readily and thus get that part of their work done sooner than the 

 rest and spend the spare time on making a chart. So far, this kind of work has 

 been done on heavy draughtsman's manila paper with charcoal, crayon, pencil, 

 or brush, as the student chose. 



It is aside from our purpose to plead with those who do not believe in the 

 value of studying things themselves rather than learning many interesting facts 

 about them from books. They will reach this conviction in the same way that 

 they learn their daily lessons — after costly experience. We wish rather to help 

 such teachers as are converted to the better (laboratory) method, but lack expe- 

 rience and means or ways. Of course some instruments are useful at the outset, 

 and under the successful teacher's guidance the work will grow, creating a 

 demand and the need for more and better facilities. A teacher tells me he can- 



