8 LABORATORY METHODS AND EQUIPMENT 



facts from the plants themselves, and to weld into one systematic 

 whole the somewhat isolated topics of laboratory study. It is 

 essential to good laboratory methods that the drawing and writing 

 of notes be done in the laboratory, which should be regarded as 

 a study room, like a library, open to the student as many hours 

 of the day as is possible, and every encouragement should be 

 given to extended individual work. 



The Laboeatory Equipment op Each Student ~ 



Every student should have an individual equipment, kept 

 either in the drawers of the table or in lockers at the side of the 

 laboratory. The following essential instruments and supplies 

 had best be purchased by himself. 



1. A razor, scalpel, forceps, and pair of needles. 



2. Slides and cover glasses. 



3. Four solid watch glasses or salt dishes. 



4. Two pipettes (medicine droppers), a camel's-hair brush, 

 and a scale in centimeters, millimeters, and inches. 



6. A medium pencil (4H) or two pencils, hard (6H) and rather 

 soft (3H), eraser, mapping pens, liquid India ink, red iuk, and 

 blue ink. Several colored pencils will be found very useful if the 

 student is to construct diagrams illustrating life histories and other 

 topics (App., 18). Higgins' red-label India ink runs more smoothly 

 and is generally more satisfactory than the waterproof ink. 



6. Drawing paper and notebook. The drawings required may 

 be made on loose sheets kept in a folder, and the notes in a 

 book, but it has generally proved more convenient to use per- 

 forated sheets of both drawing paper and note paper, cut to the 

 same size, which can be loosely held together between stiff covers 

 by a string. Such paper can be purchased in blocks from certain 

 dealers (Sec. 218), or may be made up by a local stationer. The 

 drawing paper should take ink as well as fine pencil lines; 



7. A hand lens is necessary unless the laboratory tables are 

 supplied with simple dissecting microscopes. 



