APPARATUS AND METHODS. 



13 



thumb and, holding the razor in the right hand, draw the moistened 

 thumb lightly over the edge of the razor from the heel (end nearest 

 handle) to the point. If the edge gives the sensation of taking hold 

 of the skin along its whole length, only stropping is required ; if 

 not, the razor must be honed. 



In honing*, place the razor as shown in Fig. 10, with the back 

 as well as the edge of the blade against the stone ; push the blade 

 along, edge foremost, and at 

 the same time slide it from 

 point to heel in the direction 

 of the arrow. Then turn the 

 other side of the blade to the 

 stone, and repeat the stroke 

 from point to heel towards 

 the other end of the stone, 

 and so on for several times 

 in each direction. Keep the 

 stone well covered with oil, or 

 with soap and water. When 

 the edge is ground enough, so 

 that it passes the thumb test, 

 strop the razor. 



In stropping 1 , draw the 

 razor blade over the strop 

 back foremost from heel to 

 point, as shown in Fig. 10 ; 

 reverse the face for the back- 

 ward stroke, and repeat seve- 

 ral times, until the razor 

 will readily clip a hair across when tested. 



Never leave a razor open on the table when riot in use. Always 

 clean and dry the blade after cutting sections ; rinse it in water or 

 dilute alcohol to remove acid plant juice, etc. It is a good plan to 

 oil the razor before putting it away ; before using it again, wash oft 

 the oil with alcohol. 



Fig. 10. Honing (above) and Stropping 

 (below). The arrow in each case shows 

 the direction in which the Razor should 

 be passed over Hone and Strop. 



11. Embedding in Elder Pith. A fairly large and 

 firm specimen, e.g. a piece of Marrow stein for transverse 

 sections, can easily be held in the hand and cut without 

 further preparation. If the specimen is too small or too 

 delicate or flexible to be held in the hand in this way, it 

 becomes necessary to embed it and thus have something 

 firm enough to handle. 



Get dried Elder pith supplied ready prepared by 

 dealers. Cut the pith into lengths of T5 or 2 cm., and 

 split each piece longitudinally ; to do this without causing 



