76 HOW TO USE THE MICROSCOPE 



solution. After a soaking in methylated spirit, and 

 then turpentine, they can be mounted. 



In order to examine the structure of certain 

 materials, it is frequently necessary to cut thin 

 sections, and give them treatment before mounting. 

 The novice will hardly venture into the higher 

 branches of section-making, but practice with 

 vegetable objects will pave the way for more ad- 

 vanced work. I shall therefore give a few in- 

 structions for making and preparing thin sections 



Fig. 25. — Microtome foe Botanioal Sections. 



of the stems of plants. Such may be cut with a 

 razor, the stem being held between the finger and 

 thumb of the left hand. The finger is held so that 

 the blade of the razor rests upon it, while the stem 

 to be dealt with is supported against a piece of pith 

 or carrot placed between it and the thumb. The 

 section is made with a diagonal cut of the razor. 

 Some workers become very expert in hand-cutting, 

 but I prefer to use a microtome. The least expensive 

 form of microtome, which is quite good for botanical 

 work, is represented in Fig. 25 ; it costs 5s., and 

 consists of a tube surmounted by a round flange 



