BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 411 
_ This lens can be removed and used as a pocket lens. Probably 
the simplest form of dissecting instrument is that described by 
: rofessor Barnes in this number. In quite common use are the 
_ boxed instruments, in which the box is used as the base of the in- 
 strament. The Bausch and Lomb dissecting microscopes are in 
common use, and they are spoken of here in order to recommend 
those who contemplate getting them, to order the unjointed, in- 
stead of the folding stand, as the latter is always a nuisance to 
pick up by the stage, and, as Professor Trelease writes, “who 
doesn’t pick them up by the stage?” 
ACCESSORY INSTRUMENTS.—Microtomes. The most auiver- 
sally used microtomes appear to be razors and scalpels, the rela- 
_ tive merits of which will probably never be settled. One who 
_ uses a razor can not be induced to use a scalpel, and probably the 
teverse is also true. But either will do if sharp enough, and upon 
this point of sharpness there is no dissenting voice. A day or 
_ two spent in learning how to sharpen a razor OF scalpel is never 
lost time. Plenty of good oil stones should be kept on the tables, 
’ and Professor Bessey suggests the use of a mixture of about equal 
parts of glycerine and water instead of oil. Regular microtomes 
seem to be not very commonly used, though most laboratories 
_ Possess one or more for use when necessary, but all the ordinary 
 *ettons of the laboratory are made “free-hand.” As an imbed- 
“ng substance the laboratories are about equally divided between 
_ the pith of elder and that of the common sunflower. Dr. hoth- 
¥ tock says there is nothing better than the latter, but that it should 
3 be cut when the stalk is mature and slowly dried. In reference to 
- a ch cutting the reader is referred to Professor Burrill’s paper 
nthe subject in this number. 
Fore lied with microscopes are 
ward and inexcusable. 
nickel-plated, are gen- 
‘ed to each student it 
= better be curved at the tip. They can be bought by the 
' ty at from 15 to 40 cents each, depending on whether they 
__~ 2Fass or steel. es ' Ss 
* Dissecting needles and brushes. All dissecting needles seem : 
_ 2 home-made. comes from the 
uropea 
f n larch. 
nvenient handle is all 
2 
