J. Ramsbottom 
299 
TYPE SLIDES. 
MATTER which seems to call for some consideration from 
botanists is the question of the preservation of permanently 
mounted microscope slides prepared in connection with researches 
on the anatomy, cytology, etc. of plants. In the case of systematic 
botany, it seems always to have been more or less customary to 
deposit type specimens (or co-types) in a public institution or in 
some other manner to insure that the described plant be not lost 
to science. It is very surprising that no recognised method of 
preserving botanical preparations has been adopted (at least in this 
country) except in the case of fossil botany. It would be exceeding¬ 
ly difficult to trace slides which, say twenty years ago, were at that 
time considered important enough by the author to describe and 
figure ! 
When an investigator has taken the trouble to preserve his 
slides and has not dispersed them either through change pf interests 
or magnanimity during his life-time, it seems very unusual for him 
to have made any provision for their passing into proper hands at 
his death. If figures were perfect and if botanical questions could 
be finally settled by any one investigator, the matter would be of 
little importance. The discovery of a new fact may however 
necessitate the revision of the work of previous authors; and 
moreover, certain investigations have been made with exceedingly 
rare plants, and in such cases it is practically impossible to confirm 
the results published. Further, a slide which has been drawn and 
described has a certain historical interest. 
Would it not be advisable to establish the practice of depositing 
one or more representative slides which prove or illustrate the 
author’s contentions in some institution ? Possibly a bureau of 
some description might be formed in connection with the British 
Association for their reception, but probably the logical course 
would be to place them in the British Museum where already there 
are collections of slides of historical interest as, for example, those 
of de Bary. Here they would be easily accessible and available for 
examination by any responsible and reputable person at the 
discretion of the officer in charge of them. A statement that such 
a slide, or selection of slides had been presented to a national, or 
other, collection could be made by the author on the publication of 
his work. 
J. Ramsbottom. 
