125 
growth of mold; the loss of substances other than oil, on the contrary, 
was considerably less where the mold was most vigorous. 
As nothing was known concerning the organisms with which these tubes 
had been inoculated, it was decided to repeat this experiment, without 
inoculating the tubes directly, but to start the growth by simply exposing 
them to the action of such organisms as might be present in the air from 
day to day. Therefore, the tubes were filled as before and allowed to 
stand at room temperature for two weeks, being opened and exposed to the 
air for a few minutes each day. A similar set was prepared at the same 
time and afterwards given to Dr. Edwards, of this Bureau, for bacterio- 
logical examination. 
| | | - : 5 
No. 1. | No. 2. | No. 3. | No. 4. | No. 5. | No.6. | No.7. | No.8. | No. 9. 
copra at end of | 
aie he ee | | a a a fi 
Weight of dry | | | 
CORE gai 10.00 | 10.00, 10.00 10,00. 10.00 | 10.00 10.00 10.00) 10.00 | 
Weight of water | | | 
added ____--- 0.00) 0.50 1,00 | 1.50 2.00 | 3.00) 5.00) 7.00 10.00 
Percentage mois- | | | | 
PUPe Lo Oe 0,00 4,76 9,09 | 13.04 16.67 | 23.08 | 33.33 41.18 | 50. 0O 
Weight of dry | | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
experiment ______ 9.99 10, 00 | 9. 67 | 9. 59 9.39 | 9,11 9. 42 8.97 (*) 
Gain (+) or loss | | | 
(2) Se eee (—0.01) 0.00 | —0.38 | —0.41 | —0.61 | —0.89 | 1.58 | —1.08 |_______. 
Weight of oi] ______ 6, 83 6.85 | 6,24 6,18 6.54 | 6.9254 - 2G S1 GL8S ese 
Gain (+) or loss | | 
(ts ee 0.00 | (+0.02)} —0.59 | —0.65 | —0 
Gain (+) or loss 
(—) ofsubstances | 
other than oil__-_| (—0.01)| (+-0.02)} +0.26 | +0.24 | —0.32 | —0.98 | esi tN coe EA ee oes | 
Percentage free | | 
Qnide eae 0.15 0.17 | 11.8 12.9 13.7 0.57 | 0. 39 0.47) 0.24 | 
29 | (+0.09)) — 0.02. ee | 
| | 
| 
*This tube was broken while drying. 
These tubes behaved very much like those which had been used in the previous 
experiment, Nos. 4 and 5 showing a growth of mold and an ethereal odor in 
four and No, 3 in six days; No. 6 darkened and became putrid, while Nos. 7, 8, 
and 9 simply turned “ sour.” 
The bacteriological examination showed no organisms to be growing in Nos. 1 
and 2; bacteria were found in Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, and molds in Nos. 3, 4, and 5 
only; the latter were much more numerous than the bacteria in Nos. 3 and 4, 
and about equally divided in No. 5. 
The mold most commonly occurring in Nos. 3, 4, and 5 was identified 
as Aspergillus flavus; others, mostly Aspergilli, were also found but as 
yet have not been indentified. Quite a number of bacilli were isolated 
in pure cultures, but no attempt at identification has yet been made.® 
“Experiments are now being undertaken to study the action of pure cultures 
of all these organisms on copra of varying degrees of moisture. The cultures 
are being prepared by Dr. Edwards. The results will be published in a later 
paper. 
