FUNGI. 301 



new and of a new type, named by him Bactcrhim 

 venniforme. 



2. Two other forms were met with in all the speci- 

 mens examined — Mycodenna cerevisice (Dcsm) and 

 Bacterium aceti (Kutz). 



3. As foreign intruders, more or less commonly 

 occurring in the various specimens, about fifteen are 

 enumerated, including the common beer-yeast and 

 three or four other unknown yeasts, and the common 

 blue mould, Penicilliuui glaucuin. 



This curious complex substance, according to each 

 observer, seems to consist essentially of a "yeast- 

 fungus," or saccharomycete, and a schizomycete, 

 mixed with several less important and probably 

 extraneous organisms, the difference being in the 

 names respectively assigned to them. 



Vinegar Plant. 



A peculiar flabby-looking substance has long been 

 known in rural districts, as employed in the domestic 

 manufacture of vinegar, under the name of " Vinegar 

 Plant." " This plant, which has a tough gelatinous 

 consistence, when placed in a mixture of treacle, 

 sugar, and water, gives rise to a sort of fermentation, 

 by which vinegar is produced. After six or eight 

 weeks the original plant can be divided into two 

 layers, each of which acts as an independent plant, 

 and when placed in syrup continues to produce 

 vinegar, and to divide at certain periods of grov/th. 

 The vinegar thus produced is always more or less of 

 a syrupy nature, and, when evaporated to dryness, a 



