47 
softened parts taken from the herbarium sheets. It is only neces- 
sary to remove the excess moisture before adding the sodium 
silicate. 
In rare cases where it is desirable to reéxamine the mounted 
dissections in a soft state, the entire mount, if glass or mica slides 
be used, may be boiled in water for an hour or so and then left 
in an evaporating dish in water for a longer period. In due time 
the cover glass can be easily raised, leaving the mounted material 
in a soft state and ready for further dissection and manipula- 
tion. However, it is seldom necessary to remove the cover glass 
as the slide is always in condition for immediate examination. 
This simple method has been found in practice to be eminently 
satisfactory and is recommended to herbarium workers generally. 
This medium was suggested to me by Director Merrill of the New 
York Botanical Garden when I was associated with him at the 
University of California. He informs me that it has been used 
during the past year in the herbarium of The New York Botanical 
Garden with eminently satisfactory results. 
BUREAU OF SCIENCE 
Mantra, PI. 
