No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 325 



The process consisted probably in an hydration of the cellulose, 

 and its conversion into dextrose or a related body, and the subse- 

 quent fermentation of this secondary product as shown by the fol- 

 lowing formulae: 



(1) Cg Hn, O5 + H2O Cg H,2 Og 



(2) Cg H,. Og = o CO i-3 CH4 



In 1890, Von Senus'« showed that the fermentation of cellulose was 

 not due to the aiction of B. amylohacter alone, but to its concurrent 

 action with other organisms. In 1895, Om^lianski^^ announced the 

 discovery of a bacillus capable of fermenting pure cellulose, which 

 he obtained from slime and soil rich in vegetable matte' . 



In the experiments of the author filter paper or c ton, repre- 

 senting cellulose in its purest form, was immersed in r iolution con- 

 taining sulphate of ammonia, pepton and asparagii and into this 

 culture medium the organism was introduced. TLi; beginning of 

 the fermentation was shown by the liberation of gas in from 6 to 

 10 days. An examination of the filter paper in from 3 weeks to a 

 month showed an advanced stage of decomposition, and in from 3^ 

 to 5 months 79 per cent, of the cellulose had been destroyed. The 

 products of the fermentation were found to be carbon dioxide, hydro- 

 gen, volatile organic acids and minute quantities of the higher al- 

 cohols. 



Whether bacilli identical w'ith B. amylohacter of Van Tieghem, 

 or the Bacillus of Om(?lianski, are found in all soils is a matter yet 

 to be determined, but it is believed that organisms w^ith similar 

 functions are present in abundance. Furthermore, whether these 

 bacteria decompose cellulose through their ability to secrete en- 

 zymes has also to be determined. DeBary in referring to B. amy- 

 lohacter says it decomposes cellulose forming dextrin and glucose, 

 and that it does so by disengaging an enzyme. 



Although the experimental proof of this is lacking it is probable 

 that the assumption is true. 



Baccillus mesentericus-mdgatus, a common soil species, has been 

 shown by Vigual^' to secrete: a cytase which dissolves the middle 

 lamella of vegetable cells. 



There is therefore every reason to believe that numerous organ- 

 isms capable of fermenting cellulose exist in soil, and that they act 

 upon cellulose, like the higher fungi, through their ability to produce 

 cytase. 



The action of cytase upon cellulose is to incite a chemical union 

 of water with cellulose, a process known as hydrolysis, and is an 

 action similar to that which takes place when cellulose is boiled in 



