ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 373 



fragments of a branching mycele suggested, when inspected under a 

 magnification of 600 diameters, the possibility of Streptothrix, the joints 

 forming short chains and the branches of the bifurcating filaments 

 being unequal and often curved. 



Bacteriosis of Beetroot.*— Herr A. Stift first describes the appear- 

 ances found in diseased beet, and the results obtained by inoculating 

 healthy plants with portions of diseased roots. The specific exciting 

 cause is stated to be a bacillus, B. Betse, which was isolated on agar,, 

 meat-pepton-gelatin, and beet-gelatin. The bacillus is about 4 ll long 

 and 0-9-1 ll broad. Its ends are rounded. In the hanging-drop lively 

 movements were observed, and the bacteria lay in pairs enclosed in a, 

 capsule. The flagella are numerous and delicate. In cane-sugar meat- 

 pepton-gelatin the sugar was completely decomposed, but without 

 development of gas, a fact which suggests that the conversion of the 

 sugar was due to hydrolysis. Gelatin was liquefied. On agar slants the 

 growth was white and of irregular shape. 



Constitution of Tibi.f — M. L. Lutz describes Tibi, which is found 

 in Mexico on Opuntia, as occurring in spherical transparent masses 

 resembling boiled rice-grains. These vary in size from a pea to a pin's 

 head. They ferment sugar-water and produce a light agreeable 

 beverage. Microscopical examination shows that the Tibi grains are 

 composed of bacilli, spirilla, and yeasts. When the fermented fluid has 

 been allowed to stand for a time, a zooglcea scum consisting of bacilli 

 and spirilla forms on the surface. It is not difficult to determine that these 

 two forms are only developmental stages of one species, for the spirilla 

 soon pass into bacilli. The organisms were isolated in liquid media 

 and also on potato. The growth consists of capsule bacilli of variable 

 size (l'5-3 - 3 ll long). The spirilla forms may attain a length of from 

 250-B00 ll. The bacillus is an essential aerobe, and grows easily in the 

 Tibi beverage, on carrot, Opuntia, and hay-infusion. It does not do well 

 in bouillon or in neutral Eaulin's fluid. Of the solid media it prefers 

 potato and gelatin made up with the before-mentioned fluids. The 

 bacillus is motile, does not produce indol, and does not stain by Gram's 

 method. 



The yeast is easily cultivated in fluid or gelatinised Eaulin's 

 medium. It is also cultivable in carrot and Opuntia infusions and on 

 potato. Spore-formation takes place in aqueoup solution of sugar-candy. 

 Tour spores are formed in each cell, and germination is easily effected. 

 In order to reproduce the original symbiosis, carrot decoction is 

 inoculated with the bacillus. After some clays the scum is torn off and 

 the fluid inoculated with the yeast. Grains are formed by the bacilli 

 enveloping the yeast-cells. By the careful addition of sugar the process 

 may be made to continue for a long time. The fermentation occurs only 

 by the co-operation of the two organisms, either alone being insufficient. 



Flagella of Bacillus asterosporus. J — Prof. A. Meyer agrees that 

 Migula's statement about the flagella of B. asterosporus is correct. By 



* Oesterreichiscli-ungarische Zeitsclir. f. Zuckerindustrie u. Landwirthschaft, 

 1899, p. 605. See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 2 te Abt., vi. (1900) pp. 184-7. 



t Bull. Soc. Mycologique de France, 1899, p. 68. See Beihefte z. Bot. Centralbl., 

 ix. (1900) pp. 121-2. t Flora, lxxxvi. (1899) pp. 428-31 (1 pi.). 



