proceedings: geological society 105 



tributing plants of economic value, and affording research workers 

 exceptional opportunities for study. 



Fermentation of cellulose. K. F. Kellerman, I. G. McBeth and 

 F. M. Scales. In the formation and maintenance of humus in agri- 

 cultural soils the fermentation of cellulose is probably of fundamental 

 importance yet our knowledge of this question is inadequate. Omelian- 

 sky's generally accepted conclusions that cellulose is destroyed only 

 under anaerobic conditions and gives rise either to hydrogen or methane 

 are erroneous. 



Two species of cellulose-destroying and five species of contaminating 

 bacteria were isolated from a culture of Omeliansky's hydrogen organism, 

 and one cellulose-destroying and two contaminating forms from his 

 methane culture; none of the three fermenting species showed any 

 resemblance to Omeliansky's hydrogen or methane ferments. In addi- 

 tion to the species isolated from Omeliansky's cultures eleven other spe- 

 cies have been isolated from various other sources; one isolated from 

 manure belongs to the thermophile group. 



Contrary to Omeliansky's observation that cellulose-destroying bac- 

 teria do not grow upon solid media, most of the species isolated were 

 found to grow readily upon such media as beef agar, gelatin, starch, and 

 potato. Some are facultatively anaerobic, but none are strictly anaer- 

 obic. 



It is usually supposed that filamentous fungi are of little importance 

 in agricultural soils; these investigations show them to be at least as 

 important as bacteria in destroying cellulose. About seventy-five 

 species of molds have been isolated representing a large number of 

 genera; species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium are perhaps 

 most numerous. 



In the destruction of pure cellulose either by bacteria or molds in syn- 

 thetic media the associative action of organisms which presumably 

 have no cellulose-dissolving enzymes frequently stimulates the growth 

 of the cellulose organism and increases its destructive power. 



Some phases of microscopical detection of decomposition in food prod- 

 ucts. B. J. Howard. 



W. W. Stockberger, Corresponding Secretary. 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 247th meeting was held in the Cosmos Club, November 8, 1911, 

 President Brooks presiding. As an informal communication Mr. 

 Charles A. Davis discussed the presence of locomotive cinders in salt 

 marsh deposits near Boston as affording evidence of continuing subsid- 

 ence during the last half century. 



