122 THE MICROSCOPE. Aug. 



QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 



Note. — Dr. S. G. Shanks, of Albany, N V., kindly consents to receive all sorts of ques- 

 tions relating to microscopy, ivhelhet asked by professionals or atnateurs. Persons of at, 

 fades of experience, from the beginner upxvai d, are ■ivelconie to the benefits of this depart- 

 ment. The questions are number i d Jor ftiture reference. 



241. My polarizer is made of cover g-lasses No, 2. In 

 cleaning- them I break many. Can I use covers one fiftieth 

 inch thick for polarizing-? Wistaria. 



Yes, but the thicker g;lasses will transmit somewhat 

 less light. 



242 Can you explain in a simple way why objects are 

 colored ? Wistaria. 



Color is a quality of the light which illuminates an ob- 

 ject. Without lig"ht there is no color. An object in the light 

 appears to have a color when it reflects that color and ab- 

 sorbs or transmits all the other colors. When an object re- 

 flects all colors, it is said to be white. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 



BY L. A. WILSON, 

 CI.EVELAND, OHIO. 



Excessive Mounting. — It is a waste of time and energ-y 

 to attempt to mount too many thing-s. It is more a nuis- 

 ance than a benefit to have too many slides in a cabinet. 

 Many objects may be better examined in a natural state 

 than when mounted. Such specimens may be kept in pa- 

 pers and boxes and examined as occasion may require. 



In this list I would include spores, fungi, pollen g-rains, 

 lichens, mosses and a host of similar preparations. 



Larbaraques Solution. — Where the staining- process is 

 to be employed, the substance should be previously 

 bleached. For bleaching the above solution is one of the 

 best and most convenient for the microscopist. The solu- 

 tion is also known as chlorinated soda liquor, sodae chlor- 

 atae, and disinfecting fluid. 



The fluid may be prepared as follows : 



