Objects for the Microscope. 21 



croscope, and, with a low power, first look at one of the 

 coloured segments of the corolla. Press it lightly in a 

 drop of water under a bit of glass, and you will then see 

 that the edge of the petal is fringed with little bell-like 

 glands, purple and white, and that hues of deeper colour 

 radiate from the base of the petal. Put on a higher power, 

 and you will find these are exquisite spiral vessels ; not one 

 only, but many in each line, short, and joined to each other 

 by a delicate dove-tailing process. Think of the mechanism 

 in that one small leaf, and those little oil cells fringing it 

 so prettily, doubtless for use as well as beauty. Then take 

 off one stamen and look at it in the same way. Half way 

 up the slender white stem are purple hairs, each jointed 

 and like a row of tiny amethysts : above is the heart- 

 shaped anther, with its golden store of pollen grains, out 

 of each of which will flow the life-giving germ to the future 

 seed. Take the style and stigma, and examine them next ; 

 you will not soon be weary of the sight. Most likely you 

 will find some pollen grains upon the stigma throwing 

 down their tubes invisibly ; for this is only seen with a 

 high power, and by making a very thin section of a short 

 style, such as that of a Cistus, or a Chickweed. 



After such an examination, that little flower will never 

 be seen with the same careless eye which for years had 

 passed it by unheeded, because unconscious of its beauty. 



SPIRAL FIBRE. 



Many specimens of these are sold prepared for the 

 microscope, especially the following : 



Spiral cells of Oncidium. 

 Spiral vessels of Collomia. 

 Spiral fibre from Balsam. 



Spiral cells of Sphagnum. 

 Scalariform vessels. 



They require some little explanation. We have already 

 seen, in the examination of cuticles and flower-stems, that 

 plants are made up of cells containing various substances, 

 as starch, crystals, oil, or wax. These were for the nourish- 

 ment of the plant ; but here are cells which are supposed 



