356 The Microscope. 



some plain and smooth, olliers rough, and some wiili Utile hooks 

 or clasps, to catch hold of any thing. 



Sekds. Most kinds of seeds must be ])rcpared by steeping 

 them in warm water to discover the minute plants they contain. 

 The seeds of strawberries rise out of the pulp, and appear like 

 strawberries. When viewed, seeds of the poppy, lettuce, thyme, 

 parsley, and a thousand others, afford delightful entertainment. 

 The fungus, or puff ball, when crushed, seems to the naked eye 

 like a smoke, or vapor. AVhen examined with the highest power, 

 it isfoynd to be composed of little globules of an orange color. 



Leaves. The leaves of plants are full of veins or ramifica- 

 tions, which convey the juices. The leaves of the yew are full 

 of holes, like the honeycomb. The sage leaf appears full of 

 knots, or little beads. 



CuTTiiSGs OF Wood. The air vessels and pores of wood ap- 

 pear wonderful in their figure and variety when shaved off as thin 

 as possible. Fir and cork are the best for examination; but all 

 the kinds of wood may be rendered fit for the purpose. It is 

 advisable to have several slides filled with the different kinds of 

 wood, both American and foreign. In a piece of cork, no larger 

 than the eighteenth part of an inch, sixty cells were numbered in 

 a row; whence it follows, that one thousand and eighty are in the 

 length of an inch; one million, one hundred and sixty-six thous- 

 and, and four hundred, in a square inch. From the pith of trees 

 cut so that they become tiansparent, the vessels may be seen. 

 The pith of elder is a beautiful object for this pui'pose. 



Mosses. Mosses of all kinds are agreeable objects, and ap- 

 pear by the microscope to be as perfect in their parts as the larg- 

 est trees; those which grow on the rocks and coast of the sea ex- 

 hibit amazing beauty. 



Sand. There are many sorts cf sand on the sea shore, or 

 within land; their varieties are very agreeable to examine; some 

 have angles and rough coats; others, the most beautiful polish, 

 and as transparent as the diamond. 



Sponge. Sponge is a plant and appears to be composed of 

 minute tubes, or vessels, which by tlieir capillary attraction, is 

 the cause of its absorbing so much water. The fibres should be 

 examined separately. 



MouLDiNEss. AH kinds of mouldiness on decayed fruit, bread, 

 etc. the microscope discovers to be exceedingly minute plants, 

 bearing leaves, and in every respect, developing the same beauty 

 and regularity as the leaves of trees. 



The Method of Preparing Salts for Viewing their 

 Crystallizations. After dissolving the salt in water sufficient 



