104 



HISTORY AND CAUSE OF THE COCONUT BUD-ROT. 



The two experiments show very much the same results, the only 

 difference being a browning of the solution and precipitate of the 

 scantily grouang cidtures in the second experiment. In these experi- 

 ments cultures Nos. 1, 2, and 5 seem to be identical; and 3, 4, 6, 

 and Bacillus coli identical with each other and different from 1, 2, 

 and 5. This variation may not, however, be constant, and is cer- 

 tainly not of specific value. Considering these groups different, it 

 would show the follo^nng improbable results: No. 3 (505 N) was 

 inoculated into a tree producing a disease from which was isolated 

 No. 2 (505 S) identical with it. No. 2 was inoculated into a tree and 

 produced the disease and from it was isolated No. 1 (505 R), an 

 organism differing shghtly in the growth in the nitrogen compound. 

 No. 1 was not tried to see if it has the same pathogenic properties as 

 No. 2. Again, No. 6 (508 N), identical -wdth No. 3, was inoculated 

 into a tree and produced a disease from which was isolated No. 5 

 (508 S), identical with Nos. 1 and 2, but different from No. 4. Then 

 No. 5 was inocidated into another tree, and from the resulting dis- 

 eased tissue was isolated No. 4 (508 R), different from No. 5, but 

 identical with No. 6. The assumption must be either that the organ- 

 ism is variable or that there are numerous organisms to be found in 

 such places which are so nearly alike that they may be considered 

 identical for practical purposes — that is, all have an identical disin- 

 tegrating action on the plant tissues. Moreover, the chance in favor 

 of there being separate forms is reduced to a minimum by the method 

 of inoculation and isolation, every precaution being taken to avoid 

 contamination. 



Fischer's mineral solution with various nutrient substances. 



For determining the source of nitrogen and carbon for the organ- 

 ism various compounds containing these substances were added to 

 Fischer's mineral solution, which contained neither nitrogen nor car- 

 bon. The mineral solution consisted of dipotassium phosphate 1 

 gram, magnesium sulphate 0.2 gram, and calcium chlorid 0.1 gram, 

 all dissolved in 1,000 c. c. of distilled water. 



Table XXII. — Experiment 1. Fischer's mineral solution with varioiis additions. Inoc- 

 ulations made from fluid coconut cultures Nos. 1 to 6, Februarys to 18, 1910, at 22° C. 



228 



