90 THE MICROSCOPE. June 
Forceps.—Two kinds are needed——the cornet and cover- 
glass forceps. Two of each are required. 
[A pair of cornet forceps whose jaws meet at an acute 
angle is useless. | 
Enameled Iron Buckets.—Buy two of 1,000 cc. capa- 
city and one of 500 cc. These buckets may be used 
instead of beakers in the manufacture of culture media. 
They are not expensive and do not break. 
Flasks.—Ordinary Florentine or Erlenmeyer flasks, 
of 1,000 ce. capacity, will answer. Three at least will 
be needed. 
Retort Stand.—This should be large, with three rings. 
Stains.—Small quantities of methylene blue, gentian 
violet and fuchsin, will suffice. 
Agar-agar.—Four ounces. 
Gelatin.—Gold label, one pound. 
Peptone.—American, four ounces. 
Besides the above-mentioned articles, one must have 
a Bunsen burner, alcohol lamp, an ordinary water-bath, 
six wire baskets for test tubes, one-half gross five-eighths 
by six-inch test tubes, some good neutral litmus paper, 
and two thermometers that will register to 150°C.—Bul- 
letin of Pharmacy. 
Rotting of Fruits.—According to C. Wehmer, the fun- 
gus which most commonly causes the rotting of fruits 
is Penicillium glaucum. In apples and pears this is accom- 
panied by Mucor pyriformis, and in the case of medlars 
the latter is much the most common fungus. In lemons, 
oranges and other tropical and sub-tropical fruits, P. 
glaucum is associated with two other closely allied species 
P. italicum and olivaceum. In plums, Mucor racemosus 
was also observed. In grapes Penicilium glaucum and 
Botrytis cinerea are the most common fungi.. It is the 
latter species which forms the grey tufts on walnuts.— 
Beitrage zur Kenntniss Einheimischer Pilze, 1896. 
