258 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
Vigorous growth was generally obtained in 3 or 4 days, this 
time being shortened by higher temperatures. As fast as indi- 
vidual mycelia could be distinguished, pure cultures were isolated 
by transferring to properly sterilized tubes of media. Medium 2 
or 3 was usually used for this purpose, on account of the tendency 
of the gelatin to liquefy in warm weather. Little difficulty was 
encountered in getting pure cultures in this way. That the method 
of plating was successful in keeping out all foreign spores was 
demonstrated by a set of blanks, which was made at the time the 
other plates were poured. These were poured like the others, but 

Fic. 1,—Sampling outfit 
were inoculated from sterile distilled water. On these, no fungl 
developed until many days after liberal growth had occurred on 
the soil-inoculated plates, and then only an occasional mycelium 
appeared on the very edge of the plate. In most cases, these 
plates were perfectly clear for weeks after their preparation. 
DISTRIBUTION AS TO DEPTH 
In accordance with a previously stated purpose, these fungi, 
after isolation, were studied with reference to the following points: 
(t) distribution as to depth; (2) distribution as to treatment of soil; 
(3) structural characters and identification. These will be consid- 
ered in the order given. 
