INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Set the towel against the slip’s edge without disturbing the material under the cover slip. The absorptive paper towel will draw some of the water out from under the cover slip, and pull the staining agent under the cover slip and onto the specimen.  If your wet-mounted slide specimen is pale or colorless (e.g. a cross-section of a colorless plant stem), it may be difficult to see when looking through a microscope. Staining the specimen will allow you to better see its shape and texture. This is usually done after you have already examined the wet specimen in a slide without staining it. The slide may be already prepared, even if it is not stained. Use an eyedropper and drop the staining chemical on top of the microscope slide, directly next to the cover slip. Be careful to only dispense 1 drop. Excess staining agent may run off of the slide.  Iodine or methylene blue can be purchased at any education store or biology supply store. An alternate way of doing this is to add the drop of staining agent to the water on a wet-mounted slide when you first prepare it. In this case, you do not need a paper towel. The staining agent will begin to seep under the cover slip as the paper towel draws water out from the other side. It may take as long as 5 minutes for the iodine or methylene blue to soak completely under the slide cover and saturate the specimen. Once the iodine or methylene blue has drawn all the way under the slide cover, the specimen is fully dyed. Clean off the surface of the slide so that no loose liquids spills off the side. Your wet-mounted slide is now stained and ready to observe under a microscope.

SUMMARY: Place a paper towel sheet against one edge of the cover slip. Place 1 drop of iodine or methylene blue on the other side of the cover slip. Wait while the staining agent is drawn under the slide cover. Wipe up excess staining agent with a clean paper towel.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can create 1 or 2 French or Dutch braids. If you wish to create 2 braids, you will have to part your hair down the center first. Secure the braids with mini hair elastics. Standard hair ties will be too bulky.  You can end the braids at the nape of your neck, or continue with regular braids. Change up the style by creating an interesting part on either side of your head. Use your part as a guide, and braid at an angle, continuing the line as you braid down the hair. Pull your hair back into a low ponytail. Split it into 3 sections, like doing a braid, then secure the middle section with a hair tie. Cross the 2 side sections over the top of your ponytail, like tying a shoe. Hold the sections against the sides of your ponytail, and secure them with bobby pins. Use bobby pins that match your hair color. Be sure to tuck them inside your hair so that they are not visible. Part your hair at about eyebrow-level, then gather everything above your eyebrows into a ponytail. You can make the style fancier by doing a French braid or by twisting the ponytail into a bun. Create a center or side part, then gather a 1 in (2.5 cm) section from each side of the part, right at your forehead. Twist each section into a thin rope. Pull the ropes towards the back of your head, then cross the left one over the right one to make an X. Secure the ropes by crossing 2 bobby pins over the middle of the X. If your hair is straight, try curling it for a more voluminous look. If your hair is curly, straighten it for something sleeker. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to change your part from how you normally wear it: center, left, or right. When creating a side part, begin the part above your left or right eyebrow, then angle it towards the back-center of your crown.

SUMMARY: French or Dutch Braid your hair. Create a knotted low ponytail. Keep things simple with a half-up, half-down ponytail. Twist 2 thin sections of hair into ropes and pin them back. Switch up your daily look by changing your hair texture or part.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Start by moistening the seed-starting medium thoroughly, so that it provides a good growing environment for the seeds. Fill the containers with the medium, leaving about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of space between the top of the growing medium and the rim of the containers. Place the containers in a sunny, well-ventilated area with a steady, warm temperature. The way you sow your seeds is depending on what type of plant you're growing, so it's necessary to read the seed packet carefully first. Many seeds can be scattered evenly across the surface of the growing medium. Be sure not to place too many seeds in the same growing container, since you don't want them to crowd each other too much.  Most seeds should be planted twice as deep as they are wide. Some seeds should be planted about 1⁄2 to 1⁄4 inch (1.3 to 0.6 cm) below the surface of the growing medium. Check your seed pack to make sure you sow the seeds correctly. Some seeds do best when they are chilled or soaked before sowing. Be sure you're providing the right sunlight conditions for your specific seed species. Most seeds can germinate without light, but they'll need sun as soon as they sprout. Most seeds do best with a temperature of about 78 degrees, but some need colder or warmer conditions to germinate. Seed growing medium tends to dry out quickly, since there's no soil to hold the water. Be sure to water the seeds consistently, never allowing them to dry out too much.  You can lightly drape a piece of plastic wrap over the seed trays to help trap in moisture.  Don't overwater the containers, or the seeds could become waterlogged. They should be moist, but not dripping wet. As the seeds sprout into seedlings, you'll see thin green stems emerge from the growing medium. If the containers aren't already placed in a sunny area, be sure to move them to a place with direct sunlight or provide them with grow lights overhead. Keep them moist at all times and make sure the temperature never drops below the recommended level. You can place a heat mat under the seed starting tray to maintain the correct temperature. After a week or two, weed out the weaker-looking seedlings so that the stronger ones have more room to grow. Leave about 2 - 3 seedlings per container.

SUMMARY:
Prepare the growing containers. Sow the seeds. Keep the seeds moist. Keep the seedlings healthy. Weed out the weaker seedlings.