18 TIMBER ROT CAUSED BY LENZITES SEPIARIA. 



masse are pure white; they are elhpsoid, with more or less variation; 

 many are shghtly curved, and they often have a shght remnant of 

 the pedicel attached to them, giving them a pointed appearance at 

 the basal end; they are quite uniform in size and shape, and measure 

 about 3.5 to 4 by 6 to 12 microns. Some are slightly club-shaped, 

 but this is not common. When first set free their contents are finely 

 granular. 



GERMINATION OF THE SPORES. 



After lying in water or a dilute solution of sugar for some hours, 

 the contents of the spores become coarsely granular and 1 to 3, or 

 in rare cases 4, guttules are formed. The spores did not germinate 

 in very dilute solutions of sodium chlorid, but a solution of cane 

 sugar up to 2 per cent and tap water gave results. In this solution 

 the spore swells and pushes out a germ tube, wliich branches as it 

 develops. Septa are formed, but they are not frequent. The germ 

 tubes measure about 2 to 3 J microns in diameter, or about the same 

 as that of the spores themselves at this time. A spore commonly 

 produces a single germ tube, but two may be given off, one from 

 either end. More than two germ tubes from a single spore have not 

 been noted. The germ tube soon branches and forms a more or less 

 extensive mycelium. The branches seem to arise from almost any 

 point and are not especially abundant. In cultures the mycelium 

 commonly has coarsel}^ granular contents, wliich are retracted to the 

 micklle of the hyphse. The germ tubes and hyphse are quite uniform 

 in size throughout their length. 



CULTURES. 



On July 24, 1004, while in Texas, tlie writer was able to collect 

 spores in sufficient f[uantitics for cultural experiments. The first 

 test was made in hanging drop cultures in water. This water was 

 collected from the roof of the house and stored in a galvanized-iron 

 cistern. The cultures resulted in flat failure, although the spores did 

 undergo some changes. After lying for an hour or so in the water 

 their contents became coarsely granular and from 1 to 3 or 4 guttules 

 were formed. No facilities were at hand for weighing small quan- 

 tities of material, but a dilute solution of cane sugar and one of 

 sodium chlorid were made. These were certainly less than 1 per 

 cent solutions, and were presumably much weaker. Because of 

 enforced absence the next day it is not known how long before ger- 

 mination took place. Judging from the length of the germ tubes, it 

 must have been within 24 hours after the sowing of the spores. The 

 cultures in sugar solution were the only ones that grew", and of these 

 only two showed germination. Tiie cultui'es were repeated with no 

 results, so the entire study was necessarily made from these two 



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