60 
liquid is within a distance of a centimeter of the capillary portion 
in the smallest sizes of tubes, but the fusion cannot be finished if 
it is within three or four centimeters of the end in larger tubes, 
After the filling is accomplished the tube is held in a vertical po- 
sition and the capillary tube is cut by a quick application of the 
blast flame, which alsc so seals the tube. The smoky flame may be 
e 
shown in Fig. 14, 8, which encloses an etiolated seedling of Ayi- 
saema Rha heres ; 
ethod of preparation may be used with formalin or with 
Rt pee to the character of the material. A small pro- 
portion of glycerine should be added to alcohol when it is used, 
he alcohol vapor formed in the upper end of the tube during the 
sealing often explodes with some noise during the fusion, but no 
arm is done. 
Specimens prepared in this manner may be kept indefinitely 
and are most convenient for demonstration erate ses. During the 
last year the author has carried num these tubes in hand- 
bag, shipped them by freight and express hen only a small per- 
centage of breakage. 
e smaller preparations permit the examination of the speci- 
mens with hand lenses or dissection microscopes, or even the 
compound microscopes using powers up to 50 or 75 
Tubes made for museum purposes may be variously displayed. 
The method used in the museum of the New York Botanical 
Garden consists in holding the tube upright by means of clamps 
attached to a vertical support (Fig. 14, C). A standard mounting 
block of the proper size receives an upright nickel-plated iron 
is thus held firmly in the position in which it admits of close 
examination. 
abe ona printed card is placed on the beaded and beveled 
side of the block. Mounts of this character may be displayed 
moved for demonstrations and returned without damage. 
: MacDoveat. 
