378 The American Naturalist. 
specimens should be as complete as possible when they are to 
by students. Second, dry material is very difficult to dissect. So 
in water will soften the tissue, but renders it too soft and pulpy 
dissect nicely. A third objection to this plan is the expense of ¢ 
ing so large an amount of material every year, for, in most 
least one specimen will be used up by a student in a single study. 
Having experienced the above difficulties in the laboratory, 
_ been trying in various ways to overcome them. The wor 
-winter in the laboratory is to make a study of typical species of 
orders, among which are the Rosacez, Ranunculaceze, Nymp! 
and Leguminose. This work has been preceded by similar s 
the orders Composite, Graminez, and Cyperacez in the fall, and 
_ general work in plant analysis during the previous spring term. 
course is accompanied by lectures. Now, instead of pressing N 
specimens of each species as is intended for study each year, 
the following plan: The species to be studied are selected. As 
ae 
board sheets. A convenient size for the sheets is 14x22 inches. 
specimens are fastened to the card-board with fish-glue, or 
fastened with narrow strips of gummed paper ;_I think the fis 
preferable. The mounted specimen shows the whole plant if 
The fruit is also shown. When the plant is too large to press 
the flower, fruit, various forms of leaves, and a piece of ther 
stem are mounted. If the plant has medicinal properties, | 
Such ; a set of permanent, aad specimens duplicates 
growing fresh in the field sufficiently for the purposes of syste 
study, The cards, when in use, are suspended from an arm by 
dog hooks,” which may be obtained at any bookstore. The 
about one foot long, and, as the tables are arranged in our } 
can be fastened to the window casing. Very nice hori 
with attachment can be obtained of furniture dealers. 
To go along with these mounted specimens a sufficient- 
=e and young fruits for dissection to supply the class is 
and preserved in alcohol until they are to be used. So fa ouf 
ence has been that alcohol is the best preservative for | t 
