170 THE MICROSCOPE. Nov. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 



BY L. A. WILSON, 

 CLEVELAND, OHIO. 



Phyllactinia Suffulta. — This is one of the larg-est and 

 and most striking- of the Family Erysiphea^. The g^enera 

 Phyllactinia contains but one species. The species vary 

 exceeding"ly on different host plants but are considered by 

 experts to be variations of the same species. 



They are found on leaves of the mag^nolia tribe, on 

 elders, beech, oak, ash and many other plants. It is in 

 fact a very common and ubiquitous species. It is a very 

 interesting- specimen, which is easily recog-nized by the 

 appendag-e, being- sv^ollen into knobs at the base, with the 

 tips straight. All the manipulation required for their dis- 

 play is to dip them from the leaf with a spatula, transfer to 

 a g-lass slip into a drop of water, cover and examine. 



They show well with a one inch objective. They may 

 be mounted and preserved in g-lycerine jelly. 



How to Save Money. — Dealers generally charg-e fifty 

 cents a bottle for immerson fluid. An amateur recently 

 concluded to save this outlay. He procured a formula 

 from an eminent microscopist. He purchased the materials 

 from a reliable chemist. The formula required the boil- 

 ing- of the materials. The product was designed to be 

 homogeneous fluid. The amateur boiled the stuff in a 

 nice clean porcelain dish over an alcohol lamp. While boil- 

 ing some one arrested his attention and the hot stuff tipped 

 over, scalded his hands, spoiled his new breeches and 

 ruined a carpet. This should not discourag-e any one. 

 He may save fifty cents next time. 



Hypoxylon albocinctum. — This fungus is one of the 

 very many species of a larg-e g-enus. The manipulation of 

 one will be the "open sesame" at all. Many have seen 

 them but have passed them by as of no importance; yet 

 they are complicated plants well worthy of an acquain- 

 tance. 



Most of them are found on leaves, bark and twig-s and 



