Fungi, Bacteria und Pathologie 215 



Cordyceps 2, Geopyxis 2, Helvella 3, Leptoglossum 1, Mollisia 1, Mor- 

 chella 5, Peziza 3, Pyrenopeziza 1, Spattularia 1, Verpa 1. 



Perley Spaulding. 



MiRANDE, Marcel, Contribution ä la biolog ie des Ento- 

 mophyte%. (Revue gen. de Botan. T. XVII. 1905. p. 304 

 —312.) 



On connait deux sources auxquelles les Champignons empruntent 

 l'energie et l'aliment carbone: ce sont, d'une part les matieres grasses 

 du Corps adipeux detruites par les parasites internes tels que les Ento- 

 mophthorees, d'autre part la chitine des teguments. La chitine est 

 dissoute sur le passage des filaments myceliens et transformee en sub- 

 stances parmi lesquelles se trouve la chitosamine, ylycoside legerement 

 azote. 



La cuticule chitineuse des Arthropodes les plus divers (Insectes, 

 Arachnides, Myriapodes) est parcourue par de fins canalicules debouchant 

 ä l'exterieur. Ces canalicules sont remplis de glycose qui disparatt 

 seulement ä certaines epoques, notamment aux approches de la nym- 

 phose. L'accumulation de glycose est particulierement abondante en 

 quelques points du tegument, notamment sur les aires correspondant 

 ä l'insertion des muscles. Apres la mort de l'animal les Bacteries 

 envahissent rapidement ces espaces sucres que Mirande appelle des 

 Nectaires animaux. 



Ce sont probablement_, chez l'Insecte vivant, les lieux les plus 

 favorables ä l'installation des Champignons tels que les Laboulbe'niace'es. 



Paul Vuillemin. 



Schneider, Albert, Contributions to the biology of the 



rhizobia, V. The isolation and cultivation of 



rhizobia in artificial media. (Bot. Gazette, XL. 1905. 



p. 296—301.) 



In this contribution the author gives an exceedingly detailed 

 account of the method which he has found most satisfactory for obtaining 

 pure cultures of rhizobia from the root nodules of leguminous plants. 

 The nodules are secured from plants growing in loose soil, in a place 

 removed from populous areas to avoid contamination from surface 

 sewage etc. Root portions bearing single young nodules or groups of 

 two or three are cut away and placed in a covered sterilized dish. 

 After careful selection in the laboratory the material is washed with 

 running water, soil particles being removed with a small brush. After 

 this cleaning about ten nodules are removed from the root fragments 

 with sterilized forceps and transferred to boiled water. Each nodule is 

 then thoroughly cleaned with a sterile camel's hair brush and dropped 

 into a second vessel of boiling water. After stirring them in this vessel 

 they are transferred to a test tube about half filled with boiled water. 

 The nodules are next washed in ten changes of boiled water by shaking 

 them in the tube. Their exterior surfaces are then sterilized by shaking 

 in a five per cent. Solution of carbolic acid or formalin and the dis- 

 infectant is removed by five rinsings in boiled water. They are now 

 transferred to a watch glass and crushed with a sterile glass rod. From 

 the pulp thus obtained the isolation cultures are made. The author 

 advises for these cultures the usual solid medium of beef extract, salt, 

 gelatin and agar, using only enough agar to give solidity (1,5 per cent.). 

 The first inoculation is made with platinum loop from the crushed 

 nodules, the tube of sterilized medium being at a temperature of 50" C. 

 After thorough mixing by rolling the stoppered tube between the hands, 

 a second, third, and fourth attenuation is made in a similar way. These 

 last are plated in Petri dishes in the usual manner. The most uniform 

 results are obtained by keeping the dishes at room temperature. The 



