252 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
after sixth or seventh time used, although differing a little more 
at the beginning. Ten concentrations, according to conditions 
already given, seem to be the limit of practicability, since at this 
stage the reagents have liquified to such an extent, that the time 
for concentration exceeds the time required to fuse the drying 
substances again and begin a new series of concentrations. 
In the case of sulphuric acid the mere concentration is 
satisfactory, but at the end of the process, the stain has been almost 
wholly destroyed. Perhaps for the acid stains this difficulty would 
be removed, yet on the whole it would hardly be desirable since 
other agents of equal drying power can be substituted. 
Upon examination of the material when the experiment is 
completed, no evidences of plasmolysis can be detected, and this 
action might be suspected because of the short time required in 
the process. Throughout this experiment, Cladophora and Oedo- 
gonium were used with equal success. In estimating the time re- 
quired by this shortened process, it was found that a specimen 
can be brought up ready for use in practically two days. 
In preparing material by the Venetian Turpentine method, 
much time and trouble can be saved, if after killing with chromo- 
acetic acid and washing well, the specimen is brought up in the 
alcohols, in 10, 20, 35, 50, 70, 85 and 95 per cent. successively, 
instead of using the glycerine process, incurring the risk of traces 
of glycerine in the material, preventing proper staining. The time 
is hereby also lessened, as a few minutes is sufficiently long for 
the specimen to remain in each of the graded alcohols, when 
filamentary algae and the like are used. 
If at this stage the specimen is placed in the ro per cent. 
Venetian Turpentine, without previously being stained, as has 
been heretofore considered necessary, and then a given amount 
of the concentrated alcoholic solution of the Magdala Red added 
to the turpentine, and the whole placed in the drying vessel, the 
material will in the end be perfectly stained, the process of stain- 
ing going on while the turpentine is concentrating. In performing 
these experiments Magdala Red alone was the stain used, and ten 
drops was found to be the minimum amount required in each 
experiment. . 
In trying to double stain, using Magdala Red and Aniline 
Blue, by pouring the concentrated alcoholic solutions of the 
stains together, then introducing the specimen, I succeeded a few 
