be directionally solidified in such apparatus from eutectic melts contained in the crucible such binary eutectic melts known in the art include both metals oxides and combinations thereof for example cd zn mgo uo 2 and w uo 2 but although the polycrystalline bodies can be produced using the apparatus of the invention the inventor prefers its use in growing substantially monocrystalline bodies of particular interest is the apparatus used to grow a plurality of substantially single crystal tubular objects using forming members similar in function to that shown in fig2 in one crystal growing process a forming member 30 with a base 36 is disposed in the crucible not shown with an upper surface 35 above the melt surface and generally above the crucible the melt is drawn to the surface 35 by capillary action through passages 34 and capillaries 32 and forms a film which conforms to the upper surface 35 the film liquid l in the drawing then contacts the seed crystal and solidifies solid s with the same cross sectional configuration as the forming member upper surface 35 the central hole 33 in the forming member allows production of crystalline bodies with axial cavities therein other forming members which are functionally equivalent though they may not use capillary flow are equally usable substantially monocrystalline bodies with cross sectional shapes other than tubular e g solid filaments ribbons etc may be produced with the present invention by selecting forming members of appropriate corresponding shape furthermore there is no apparent reason why a large single tube could not be pulled from a single annular forming.