226 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



sterilization for the growth of plants under glass. Later marked differences 

 were shown, the purple color disappeared, and the plants hegan to show re- 

 markable growth. 



Sometimes soils treated with toluene behaved like those heated to 55°, but 

 on rich soils early development was retarded. Other volatile antiseptics were 

 found to behave like toluene. 



Comparing partially sterilized with untreated soils, the authors found that 

 there was generally a retardation in germination, although sometimes partial 

 acceleration occurred. An acceleration in growth followed up to the time of 

 the appearance of the third or fourth leaves, but sometimes a marked re- 

 tardation was noticed, especially in rich soils heated to 100°. Where this 

 retardation occurred it was accompanied by a very dark green leaf color and 

 either the formation of a purple pigment or a tendency for the leaves to curl 

 toward the underside. Later the purple color disappeared, the curling ceased, 

 and rapid growth took place. The subsequent growth vras finally proportional 

 to the amount of food present. Plants grown on soils heated to 100° showed a 

 remarkable development of fibrous roots, and, in comparison with those on 

 untreated soils, had larger leaves of a deeper green color, stouter stems, 

 usually shorter internodes, flowered earlier and more abundantly, and con- 

 tained a higher percentage of nitrogen and sometimes of phosphoric acid in 

 their dry matter. Plants grown on soils heated to 55° or treated with volatile 

 antiseptics showed fewer of these effects. 



Considering the chemical differences in the soils, it is stated that partially 

 sterilized soils are characterized by an accumulation of ammonia, while un- 

 treated soils contain practically no ammonia. Soils heated to 100° are char- 

 acterized by the presence of decomposition products, some of which possess 

 characteristic colors and odors. 



The authors present the data upon which their paper is based and give an 

 extended discussion of their observations. 



Some organic constituents of the culture solution and the mycelium of 

 molds from soil, M. X. Sullivan (Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 38 (1913), No. 9S4, 

 p. 678). — An examination was made of the dried mycelium of mixed mold 

 cultures from soil, of Penicillnim glaucum grown on Raulin's solution, and of 

 the filtered solution after a mold growth to determine the various organic con- 

 stituents. 



In the mixed molds a large number of organic substances were found, many 

 of which were subsequently recognized in P. glaucum. In the alcoholic soda ex- 

 tract of P. glaucum the author found oleic and palmitic acids, a fatty acid melt- 

 ing at 54° C, a fatty acid which appears to be elaidic acid, hypoxanthin, guanin 

 and adenin, histidin, thymin, and chlorin. In the direct alcohol extract, man- 

 nite, cholesterol bodies, hypoxanthin, and cerebrosids were found. Guanidiu 

 was determined from mold grown on Raulin's solution, to which peptone in 

 small quantity was added. In the culture solution after a number of weeks' 

 growth were found fatty acids, pur;n bases, a small quantity of a histidin-like 

 body, pentose sugar, unidentified aldehydes, etc. Many of these compounds have 

 been found in soil, and the conclusion is drawn that micro-organisms, such as 

 yeast, bacteria, and molds, play an important part in their formation. 



Polyatom.ic alcohols as sources of carbon for molds, R. E. Neidig (Al)S. in 

 Science, n. ser., 38 {1913), No. 984, P- 675). — ^A comparison was made of methyl 

 alcohol, glycol, glycerol, erythrite, adonite, mannite, dulcite, and sorbite to de- 

 termine their availability as sources of carbon for 8 species of molds represent- 

 ing 4 genera. 



It was found that methyl alcohol produced no growth, glycol induced germi- 

 nation only, glycerol produced strong cultures, erythrite could be used by the 



