1897 THE MICROSCOPE. 143 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
— 
Note.—Dr. S. G. Shanks, of Albany, N Y., kindly consents to receive al, sorts of ques« 
tions relating to microscopy, whether asked by professionals or amateurs. Persons of ats 
grades of experience, from the beginner upward, are welcome to the benefits of this depart- 
ment. The questions are numbered for future reference. 
Q, 260.— What is the best method of preparing and 
treating soft or hard vegetable substances for cutting and 
mounting. ed 3 Gores ae 
A.—Soft or growing vegetable material should be cut into 
half-inch lengths, or smaller and placed in three or four 
times the bulk of strong alcohol. After 24 hours, pour 
away the weakened liquid and replace with strong alcohol. 
Repeat this three times. The specimens will then be 
hardened and ready forcutting. Many stems, leaves and 
roots can be supported ina piece of carrot, suitably shaped 
or hollowed, and cut with a razor, flooded with water or 
weak alcohol, so the section will float when cut. Buds, 
ovaries and other structures, with loose internal parts 
must be embedded (in celloidin by preference) before 
cutting. Hard and dry woods can be sectioned with a 
sharp, finely-set plane. 
@. 261.—Is there any book of a moderate price that 
fully treats the subject of vegetable sections? ft AS Te 
A.—Clark’s Practical Methods in Microscopy, costs 
$1.50, is a good book. See American Monthly Microscop- 
ical Journal, Vol. VII (1886) page 43, for a valuable article 
on staining vegetable tissues; also Vol. XII (1890) page 
190, on preparation of vegetable tissues. 
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 
By L. A. WILLSON, 
CLEVELAND, OHIO. 
Palidium Ciliare.-—There isa liver-moss found on rotten 
logs and stumps. Generic name means a feather, alluding 
to the fringed foliage. Mounted in glycerine gelly it is 
