1885.] 



MICKOSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



77 



Microscopical ExHiBiTiONs.-The 

 ostensible purpose of public exhibi- 

 tions given by microscopical societies 

 is to promote interest in microscopical 

 studies. As usually conducted they 

 bring together a large collection of at- 

 tractive objects, chosen mainly because 

 thev are of a striking character, well 

 calculated to arrest attention and pro- 

 duce astonishment in the minds of the 

 uninitiated. While we do not wish 

 to write one word of opposition to 

 such displays, which are undoubtedly 

 very desirable and instructive, we 

 were led to think, on the occasion of 

 the recent exhibition in this city, 

 whether there could not be devised 

 some means to make them far more 

 useful, from an educational point of 

 view. 



A plan very soon came to mind, 

 which at the time seemed practica- 

 ble, and has since commended itself 

 more perfectly ; we now offer it for 

 consideration to our readers, some of 

 whom may feel disposed to try it. It 

 is this : Instead of asking all the mem- 

 bers of a society to select their own 

 objects for exhibition, which results 

 in a promiscuous collection without 

 any pretence of systematic arrange- 

 ment, let some member, or several 

 members acting together as a com- 

 mittee, take charge of the entire ex- 

 hibition and select one or more series 

 of objects to be shown in their proper 

 order, to illustrate certain subjects. 

 The list of objects once made out, it 

 will be a very easy matter for any 

 person familiar with the tastes and 

 abilities of the members to assign the 

 objects around to the satisfaction of all. 

 The purpose of such an arrange- 

 ment is to make exhibitions instruc- 

 tive in the highest degree possible. 

 To more fully explain our meaning 

 let us take a special subject for pre- 

 sent consideration, premising, how- 

 ever, that we have not given it suffi- 

 cient consideration ourselves to offer 

 a scheme in any sense complete or 

 satisfactory concerning any subject. 

 We will suppose, then, that there are 

 fifty microscopes available for an ex- 



hibition, and it has been decided to 

 devote a number of them to the illus- 

 tration of the process of fertilization 

 and early development of plants. The 

 Hrst object shown should be a draw- 

 ing or painting of a flower, designat- 

 ing the filaments, anthers, ovaries, 

 etc., so that subsequent explanations 

 may be understood. Then, beginning 

 with the microscopes, some varieties 

 of pollen might be shown, followed 

 by a preparation showing the growth 

 of the pollen-tubes. Next there should 

 be some sections of ovaries of different 

 plants, showing the various positions 

 in which the young seeds grow within 

 them, and other features that will 

 occur to an observer. Then there 

 might come some ripe seeds of va- 

 rious kinds, showing the ornamenta- 

 tion upon many of the common flower 

 and vegetable seeds, and finally sec- 

 tions of the ripe seeds showing the 

 young plant in embryo. Each speci- 

 men should be clearly described, as 

 concisely as possible, so that the ob- 

 server can immediately understand it. 

 The plan of describing every specimen 

 in order on a printed program, adopted 

 by the New-York Microscopical So- 

 ciety, would be excellent for an ex- 

 hibition of this kind. Out of fifty 

 microscopes, twenty might be devoted 

 to one series of objects, twenty to 

 another series of a different kind, and 

 the remaining ten to the standard show- 

 specimens, such as the circulation of 

 blood, cyclosis in a plant, beetle's 

 wings, and gorgeous objects of all 

 kinds. 



This hastily drawn outline will be 

 suggestive to those who deem the 

 plan worthy of trial. It appears to 

 us it would add greatly to the interest 

 of such exhibitions, and benefit not 

 only the guests but also the members 

 themselves. It would certainly make 

 it necessary for members to prepare 

 special objects for such an exhibition 

 and to read up on the subjects as- 

 signed to them — a proceeding that 

 could not fail to be beneficial. 



At the present time society exhibi- 

 tions are not in great favor among 



