1894 THE MICROSCOPE. 15 



The Newberry Fund.— Scientific work in geology, palaeon- 

 tology-, botany and zoology is to be aided by the income from 

 the $25,000 memorial fund to be raised to the memory of Dr. .J. 

 S. Newberry. 



Bacteria Deprived of Sunlight.— The nitrifying bacilli of 

 the soil aje entirely removed from sunlight and seem to thrive 

 on mineral food. How do they obtain energy with which to 

 manufacture protoplasm from inorganic material ? Doubtless 

 from the gases or liquids within their reach. Prof. Johnstone 

 Stoney, thinks (Sci. Proc. Roy., Dublin Soc, VIII, 154), that the 

 energy may be imparted by the impact of the more swiftly 

 moving molecules of these gasses and liquids. Ifthatbethe 

 case, the excessiv*e minuteness of the bacilli is explained. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



White's Objects. — 1 would strongly urge those of your 

 readers who desire beautiful, interesting and instructive objects 

 for the microscope to stnd to Mr. C. W. Smiley for a few sam- 

 ples of White's botanical sections. They are well cut and 

 stained and temporarily mounted, and can be examined in that 

 way, but to see them at their best they must be mounted in 

 glycerine or balsam. I have about twenty slides mounted in 

 benzole balsam, and take great interest in them ; that interest 

 has increased since I have examined them by polarized light, 

 and when a selenite plate is put under the object slide, they are 

 beautiful beyond description, and must be seen to be appre- 

 ciated. When the prisms in the polarizer are turned to show 

 a dark ground illumination some of these sections show a 

 differentiation of parts that are fine and clear. They stand out, 

 as it were, with a solid, or stereoscopic appearance. So beautiful 

 are they that I have placed them in the case where I keep my 

 '• Oh, my " slides. 



I have not yet had time to make negatives of the beautiful 

 objects mentioned above, but when I do, which will be soon, I 

 will send several prints to be engraved. I have ordered from 

 Carbutt a yellow ray filter, which used in connection with his 

 orthochromatic plates, will give value to the staining.— Thos. J. 

 Bray, Warren, Ohio. 



