1148 Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



mixture of refined beeswax and pure vaseline. The cover should be cemented 

 to the ring with vaseline. The same character of liquid should be used at the 

 bottom of the cell as employed in the drop. 



This form of cell culture, although highly accurate for culturable forms in 

 nutrient media, will not give best results when a careful study is to be made of 

 particular stimulants in water, or in a medium not ordinarily causing abundant 

 germination. Any volatile or soluble substance besides the medium employed is 

 apt to reduce the trustworthiness of the results. Even the purest vaseline may 

 have an effect on sensitive forms. As a modification of the above method, the 

 cells may be used in Petri dishes, on the bottom of which is placed filter paper 

 with holes for the insertion of cells, thus securing them against movement. The 

 covers are laid on without vaseline and the whole kept in moist chambers. Petri 

 dishes with ground glass tops are preferable. 



A decoction of green string beans or of sugar beet is recommended as the 

 best culture medium for must readily culturable fungi ; 392 grams of green 

 beans per liter of water, or about 50 grams of dry matter per liter, have been 

 found satisfactory proportions. 



As a standard nutrient salt solution, the following formula is well known. 

 It may be used without the sugar, the osmotic influence being neglected as of 

 little consequence in comparison with the desirability of having equivalent salt 

 constituents : 



Ammonium nitrate - - 1.0 gram. 



Acid potassic phosphate ------ 0.5 " 



Magnesium sulphate ------- 0.25 " 



Iron ------------- trace. 



Cane sugar ---------- 3 to 5 grams. 



Water ---------. - - 100 c. c. 



We shall be very glad to have our readers avail themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity which we have previously offered in the Journal and as herein suggested 

 by Dr. Bessey. 



Waterville, Me., January 13, 1901. 



Journal of Applied Microscopy : 



Sirs : — I note that you asked your patrons to suggest anything that might 

 occur to them as of interest in making the Journal more interesting. It occurs 

 to me that if you should set apart a column giving the subscribers a chance to 

 ask questions of a scientific nature, and have them answered, either by the 

 editors or by other subscribers, that it might add to the general interest. I 

 think almost any person having laboratory work would like to ask some question 

 that is not in publication, and could be answered by another doing such work. 

 I merely suggest this. Very likely you have already considered it. 



Most sincerely yours, 



M. W. Bessey, M. D., 

 Colby College. Instructor in Zoology. 



