A good microscopy book would tell how to set things in paraffin wax or
acrylic before cutting.  I've seen others do this but have yet to myself.
The local SEM or TEM microscopy lab at a university or museum would probably
have this expertise, even with no botanist, and special saws to go with.  A
morphologist or cytologist would be helpful.  The other thing is to be sure
to have a new razor blade when making the cut and be careful to be at right
angles to the stem.  It takes practice, but is not impossible to get a thin,
straight cut.  Every plant biologist started with the same problem you're
having, so have confidence that you can do it or tell your photographer
he/she can.

                                                Miriam




At 04:09 PM 5/19/97 -0500, you wrote:
>In photographing cross sections of grass stems, the photographer is
>having trouble getting a perfectly flat cut so that there is no
>distortion in terms of depth of field. Under the 'scope any varience
>registers in terms of focus. Does anyone know of a good way to
>get a perfectly flat cut. I
>wondered about freezing it and doing a frozen
>section?
>Kathy Evans
>