54 NATURALISTS’ ASSISTANT. 
different colors are used for these tablets; this in the case 
of geological collections has its advantages, as different for- 
mations may be indicated by the color of the tablet bearing 
the specimen. The general effect, however, is not so good as 
when a uniform black is employed in all departments of the 
museum. Various substitutes for the wooden tablets have 
been proposed and each has its advocates. Pasteboard, 
slate and glass have all been used, but wood, taking every- 
thing into consideration, is the best. 
The specimens are affixed to these tablets in various ways. 
“e b] 
A common method is with “grafting wax.” The grafting 
wax, such as Is used by gardeners, is kept melted in a glue 
pot over a spirit lamp and a drop taken up with a brush and 
placed in the desired spot on the tablet and the specimen 
placed on it, and a few moments only are required to set the 
wax and hold the specimen firmly. If at any time it be de- 
sired to remove the object from the tablet, a knife blade 
slightly warmed will accomplish it, and all wax may be cleaned 
from the specimen by alcohol or turpentine. Others employ 
sealing wax dissolved in alcohol, or common glue, for fasten- 
ing the specimens, but while they hold the object securely, 
it cannot be as readily removed. . 
Many minute forms (shells, etc.) cannot be fastened di- 
rectly to the tablets and at such times small homceopathic 
vials are used. The specimens are placed in these and the 
vials are then stopped with a cork ora bit of cotton wool, 
and then cemented to the tablet by wax or glue. A label 
should always be placed in each vial. A great desideratum 
