314 UNCLASSIFIED PUBLICATIONS [Bot. Absts., Vol. V, 



where growth occurred. The facultative anaerobes fell between (1) 42° and 80°C. ; (2) 22° 

 and 80°C. ; (3) 37° and 80°C. ; (4) 22° and 55°C. ; (5) 37° and 55°C. ; (6) 37° and 65°C. ; (7) 

 22° and 45°C. All the five obligate anaerobes isolated were vigorous gas formers and fell into 

 four groups according to the above classification. (1) 45° and S0°C. ; (2) 30° and 65°C. ; (3) 

 42° and 65°C. ; (4) 22° and 45°C. [From author's abst. of paper read at scientific session, Soc. 

 Amer. Bact.]— D. Rcddick. 



2416. Hammer, B. W. , and L. R. Sanders. A bacteriological study of the method of pas- 

 teurizing and homogenizing the ice cream mix. Iowa Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 186: 19-26. 1919. 



2417. King, Albert E. W. The mechanical properties of Philippine bast-fiber ropes. 

 Philippine Jour. Sci. 14: 561-655. 5 pi., 2 fig. 1919. — These investigations were undertaken 

 to secure quantitative results on the mechanical properties of Philippine bast-fiber ropes. 

 Thirty-two kinds of fibrous material were obtained from bast-plant species, and seven from 

 those that gave no bast-fibers. These were compared with abaca and maguey. The plain 

 stripping process of obtaining fiber was compared with the water-retting process, to the ad- 

 vantage of the latter. The circumference and cross sectional area were calculated and the 

 tensile strength was determined, the results being collected in a series of tables. The indi- 

 vidual species of the fiber plants are described. — Albert R. Swectser. 



2418. Magoiora, A., and Carbone, D. Sull'impiego del Bacillus felsineus per la macer- 

 azione industriale della canapa. [The utilization of B. felsineus in the retting of hemp on an 

 industrial scale.] Staz. Sper. Agrarie Ital. 52: 449-462. 1919. — The present investigation 

 aims at the study of the commercial application of a biological method for retting hemp (Can- 

 nabis). The material is introduced into masonry tanks containing water sufficient to cover 

 it and maintained at 37°C. by means of steam pipes. Inoculation of the mass with cultures 

 of B. felsineus and Saccharomyces ellipsoideus in relatively moderate amounts brings about 

 retting of the fiber in 60-90 hours. The quality of the product is "perfect" in terms of com- 

 mercial standards. The quantity retted varied in the experiments from 100 kgm. to 492 kgm. 

 and this is considered by the authors as an indication that the method is applicable to larger 

 lots on a commercial scale. Slight variations in the technic may be introduced in the proced- 

 ure as a result of scientific investigations. — A. Bonazzi. 



2419. McAtee, W. L. Some local names of plants, III. Torreya 20: 17-27. 1920.— A 

 list of 150 local names, applied to 104 species of American plants belonging to 59 families, is 

 presented. The locality is cited wherever possible, and the source from which the name 

 was obtained is indicted. [Previous installments appeared in: Torreya 13:225-236. 1913. 

 Ibid. 16: 235-242. 1916.]— J. C. Nelson. 



2420. Murrill, W. A. Plant growths that shed light. Sci. Amer. 122: 427, 440. 4 fig. 

 1920. — Popular description of certain luminous fungi. — Chas. II. Otis. 



2421. Mutch, Nathan. The isolation of a single bacterial cell. Jour. Roy. Microsc. 

 Soc. London 1919: 221-225. / fig. 1919. — The organism to be studied is grown upon a solid 

 medium for six or eight hours, and the resulting growth emulsified in sterile broth or nor- 

 mal saline solution. One or two narrow rings of filter paper are then placed in the hanging 

 drop cell and moistened with saline solution. The rim of the cell is prepared with vaseline. 

 A clean cover slip is flamed and when cooled a micro-drop of emulsion of bacterium is placed 

 in its center by means of a very small loop of platinum wire. The slip is immediately placed in 

 position over the moist chamber. A series of such drops can be prepared and examined rap- 

 idly and the dilution of the original emulsion adjusted until a drop containing a solitary or- 

 ganism is found. The cover slip is raised from the cell, a large drop of suitable medium is 

 placed close to the micro-drop and the slip is tilted until the two coalesce. The slip is then 

 placed on another moist cell, incubated for 24 hours, and again examined. When a solid me- 

 dium is employed, if original observation was correct, one colony only will have developed. 

 In working with delicate organisms the process must be carried out at body temperature on 



