26 



assistants. The textile fibres used for the experiments were 

 hemp, flax, ramie, gelso (the fibre of Moms alba et nigra), and 

 New Zealand flax. The method adopted was to inoculate 

 the steeping-vat with a pure culture of one or other of the 

 pectose-dissolving bacteria, such as Gramdohacter pectinovorum, 

 Plectridium pecti7iovorum, Bacillus macerans, B. pecticus, or 

 B. Kramerii. The bast fibre, separated by this process of 

 selective fermentation, was then subjected to microscopic 

 analysis. 



Jouni. QneLett Microscopical Club, Ser. 2, Vol. XL, No. (3(5, Ajirll 1910. 



