68 



HISTOEY AXD CAUSE OF THE COCONUT BUD-EOT. 



fying power of an organism. Bacillus coli and all six of the coconut 

 organisms answer to this test also. It has been seen, however, that 

 coconut No. 1 if left longer than prescribed in the tests will cause 

 hquefaction. This organism answers to all of the other routine 

 tests for Bacillus coli, as do the other coconut cultures. On the other 

 hand, coconut No. 1 differs somewhat in some minor tests. Can, 

 then. Bacillus coli and coconut No. 1 be considered identical organ- 

 isms? Apparently not. It would seem very probable, however, in 

 view of the close similarity of the two organisms that coconut 

 No. 1 was derived from coconut No, 2 (505 S, the organism inoculated 

 into the coconut seedling from which No. 1 was isolated), but had 

 changed its character to some extent. The similarity of coconut 

 No. 1 to the other coconut cultures and to Bacillus coli will be brought 

 out more clearly in subsequent pages. 



PRODUCTION OF ACID AND GAS IN DEXTROSE. 



In one series of experiments the average gas production in 10 days 

 in the closed end of fermentation tubes was 24 millimeters and the 

 average titration was + 25 on Fuller's scale. As wdll be seen, however, 

 in the citation of various titrations and gas production, there is con- 

 siderable variation. Table VI gives the acidity ascertained on vari- 

 ous cultures. The amounts are typical of many other titrations. 



Table VI. — yidd production by coconut cultures Nos. 1 to 6 and Bacillus coli in 



various media at 22° C.^ 



1 Distilled water used in these 3 media. 



In a dextrose solution in distilled water, originally + 5, the culture 

 became -1-11.5, showing an acid production but not so great (nor so 

 good a growth) as in the presence of peptone also. 



228 



