4 BOTANY. 



work: 1. a small camel's-hair brush for picking up small 

 sections and putting water in the slides ; 2. small forceps for 

 handling delicate objects ; 3. blotting paper for removing super- 

 fluous water from the slides and drawing fluids under the cover 

 glass ; 4. pieces of elder or sunflower pith, for holding small 

 objects while making sections. 



In addition to these implements, a few reagents may be 

 recommended for the simpler histological work. The most 

 important of these are alcohol, glycerine, potash (a strong solu- 

 tion of potassium hydrate in water), iodine (either a little of 

 the commercial tincture of iodine in water, or, better, a solution 

 of iodine in iodide of potassium), acetic acid, and some stain- 

 ing fluid. (An aqueous or alcoholic solution of gentian violet 

 or methyl violet is one of the best.) 



A careful record should be kept by the student of all work 

 done, both by means of written notes and drawings. For most 

 purposes pencil drawings are most convenient, and these should 

 be made with a moderately soft pencil on unruled paper. If 

 it is desired to make the drawings with ink, a careful outline 

 should first be made with a hard pencil and this inked over 

 with India-ink or black drawing ink. Ink drawings are best 

 made upon light bristol board with a hard, smooth-finished 

 surface. 



When obtainable, the student will do best to work with 

 freshly gathered specimens ; but as these are not always to be 

 had when wanted, a few words about gathering and preserving 

 material may be of service. 



Most of the lower green plants (algce) may be kept for a 

 long time in glass jars or other vessels, provided care is taken 

 to remove all dead specimens at first and to renew the water 

 from time to time. They usually thrive best in a north win- 

 dow where they get little or no direct sunshine, and it is well 

 to avoid keeping them too warm. 



Numbers of the most valuable fungi i.e. the lower plants 

 that are not green grow spontaneously on many organic 



