354 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Although the relative number of each micro-organism in a combined 

 culture has much to do with its final outcome, yet the above table will con- 

 clusively demonstrate that association is to a greater or less extent inde- 

 pendent of such numbers. 



The accelerating influence is noticeable when the number of the asso- 

 ciate micro-organisms 



(1) is much below the number of lactic micro-organisms in the culture. 



(2) is much above the number of lactic micro-organisms in the culture. 



(3) is about equal to the number of lactic micro-organisms in the culture. 

 The real significance of the number value when two kinds of bacteria are 



brought together in a combined culture, can only be estimated after pro- 

 longed experimentation with this factor as the leader. 



THE ASSOCIATIVE INFLUENCE AND THE REACTION OF THE CULTURE. 



The associative influence is not confined to any definite reaction of the 

 culture,* or to any class of organisms which may be regarded as alkali or 

 acid producers. As an illustration, Culture la gives rise to no changfc in 

 acidity, the milk remains at 18° although the multiplication of the micro- 

 organisms is very rapid, increasing fr'o'm 4 to 300,000,000 in fifty-three ho'urs. 



