232 THANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THR [Sess. Lxvi. 



Biccia glauca, L. — Mr. Young gave me fresh specimens 

 from the top of a wall at Finlarig. li. hifurca, Hoffm. — 

 On moist gravelly soil in some quantity, Creag-an-Lochan, 

 1800-2000 ft. ' 



The Botanical Use of Musgrove's Xylol Blue. 

 By E. A. EoBERTSON, M.A., B.Sc, F.E.S.E. 



(Read 10th April 1902.) 



This is what one might call a vudtum in parvo fluid, 

 inasmuch as it removes paraffin, stains and clears at one 

 operation. In an appended note, Professor Musgrove has 

 kindly given the formula, method of preparation, and 

 original purpose of the fluid. 



Tor making a rapid examination of samples of a ribbon 

 during the process of sectioning, the advantages of this 

 fluid are obvious. While primarily intended for such 

 temporary work it can be used for making more permanent 

 preparations, and in this connection either tor hand-cut or 

 for paraffin sections, for staining en Noc or on the slide. 



For general botanical work dilute solutions are recom- 

 mended, such as, one part of stock (see infra) to four, six 

 or more parts of xylol. The addition of a small quantity 

 of glacial acetic acid — one or two per cent. — to the xylol 

 is also advantageous in some cases. The fluid should then 

 be filtered before use. 



For en hloc staining, the tissue, thoroughly dehydrated 

 is immersed for several hours in the dilute fluid. The 

 time is regulated according to the stainability of the 

 material and the strength of the solution ; thus many 

 fungi require at least a night in the one to four solution. 

 It is then transferred to xylol and passed through xylol 

 paraffin into paraffin. 



For on the slide staining, the slide with the sections 

 affixed is left in the stain from a few minutes to several 

 hours, the time being regulated as in en hloc work. They 

 are then mounted in xylol balsam direct or after a pre- 

 liminary rinse in xylol. 



Hand-cut sections receive similar treatment ; first 

 dehydrate in absolute alcohol, stain, rinse in xylol, and 



