224 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECOED. 



After the cessation of fermeutatiou by pure yeast a new and often luxuriant 

 growtli appears, showing as flocculent or glistening layers of new yeast on or 

 near the bottom. Under the same circumstances and at the same time at 

 from 20 to 22° C. in 4 or 5 months a volatile acid, said to be acetic, forms to 

 the amount of about 0.18 per cent. This apparently depends not upon the 

 presence of unfermented sugar or upon the simple oxidation of alcohol but upon 

 the presence of certain kinds of yeast. The author thinks it possible, however, 

 that these yeasts are able by means of oxidases to oxidize alcohol to this acid. 



A new fermenting fungus, A. Osterwaldek {Centbl. Bakt. [etc.l, 2. Al)f., 

 33 (1912), No. ll-lJf, pp. 257-272, pi. 1, figs. 2).— Continuing the above studies, 

 the author reports that he has discovered, isolated, and cultivated an actively 

 fermenting fungus said to be new and by him named Monilia vini, in regard to 

 which the following particulars may be noted : 



M. vini, isolated from an acid apple wine, proves to be the most active iu 

 producing fermentation of all the Monilia forms, completely fermenting fruit 

 and grape wine, this change occurring most rapidly with free access of air. 

 The new species is able to develop rapidly in as strong a solution as 1.2 per 

 cent of malic acid, also to ferment sugar in 0.4 per cent of alcohol, giving as a 

 result of such fermentation both volatile and nonvolatile acids along with alco- 

 hol. It appears able to ferment any sugar remaining after the cessation of 

 ordinary vinous fermentation, to the advantage of the wine, showing no injuri- 

 ous effects. It seems to ferment most rapidly dextrose and levulose ; less rapidly 

 saccharose, lactose, and galactose ; and least rapidly maltose. In fermentation 

 of the last of these and the first two the fungus develops much volatile acid. 



Biological characteristics are described at some length. 



The mycorrhiza of Solanum, N. Bernard (Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., 9. ser., 1/f 

 (1911), No. 4-6, pp. 235-258, figs. 12; ais. in Bot. Gaz., 53 (1912), No. 3, p. 

 271). — In continuation of investigations on the association of fungi with the 

 formation of tubers in certain plants (E. S. R., 14, p. 635), the author had 

 begiUTi a study of tuber formation in Solanum, but the work was stopped by his 

 death. In the paper presented some account of his investigations is given. He 

 had found that S. dulcamara and 8. maglia when grown under normal condi- 

 tions had their roots infested with fungi, but that when grown in gardens 

 S. maglia did not show any mycorrhiza. The results obtained are believed to be 

 suggestive of tuber formation in the potato in a wild state. 



Gastrodia elata and its symbiotic association with. Armillaria mellea, S. 

 KusANO (Jour. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Toki/o, 4 (1911), No. 1, pp. 1-66^ pis. 5, 

 fig. 1). — ^According to the author, O. elata is a nonchlorophyllous orchid which 

 is unable to exist as an autophyte. The vegetative organ of the plant is repre- 

 sented simply by a tuberous rhizome. It forms mycorrhiza with the mycelium 

 of A. mellea, or, as it is often called, Rhizomorpha subterranea. Tubercles cul- 

 tivated in pots with sand, loam, or humus soil produced numerous offshoots, 

 but none of them ever reached the flowering stage. The saprophytic develoj)- 

 ment of the fungus reduces the vegetative organs of the orchid, and flowering 

 stalks are produced. It was found that only when the mother tuber contains 

 mycorrhiza does it develop a full-gi'own offset, which remains dormant during 

 the winter and develops the inflorescence axis the spring of the next year. 



The fungicidal action of bulbs of orchids, N. Bernard (Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., 

 9. ser., U (1911), No. 4-6, pp. 221-234, figs. 3; ahs. in Bot. Gaz., 53 (1912), No. 3, 

 pp. 267, 268). — The fact that certain orchid bulbs have been found free from 

 fungi while the roots contained mycorrhiza led the author to a study of the 

 phenomenon of the fungus not passing from the roots to the succulent bulbs. 



Fragments of bulbs were placed in tubes containing cultures of fungi isolated 

 from various orchids. The growth was inhibited wherever the fungus came in 

 contact with the fluids given off from the bulbous material. 



