98 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



In 24 hours the yellow appearance has deepened to a dirty white 

 and the softening has increased to a depth of 2-3 mms., while the odour 

 has become much more pronounced. 



Radish. — In 24 hours there is softening of both stem and foliage, 

 and in 48 hours a young radish is completely rotted, with a distinctly 

 objectionable and putrid odour. 



Banana. — In 24 hours growth and softening: in 48 hours pieces 

 of banana f inch thick completely rotted with a waxy appearance and 

 formation of gas. 



Rhubarb. — Whitish growth on surface, but no softening in 24 hours. 



Asparagus. — Brown stain on all cut surfaces, no softening in 24 

 hours. 



The media used in the cultural work consisted of — 

 Beef peptone gelatine, 



agar, 

 Potato gelatine, and 

 " agar. 



In preparing the two former, the standard methods of the American 

 Society of Bacteriologists were adhered to, the reaction to phenol- 

 phthalein being adjusted to 1-5 % acidity. 



To obtain the latter, healthy sound potatoes were grated and the 

 juice thus obtained strained through fine cloth and at once heated 

 for half an hour in the steamer at 100°C. After standing for a few 

 hours a comparatively clear liquid was obtainable. This poured off 

 constituted with the addition of 5% of Nahrstoff Heyden and 12-5% 

 gelatin or 1 • 5% agar, the potato media. 



The media was cleared in the usual way, and after adjusting the 

 reaction to 1-5% acidity (phenolphthalein) sterilisation was accom- 

 plished by intermittent heating for three successive days. 



A medium was prepared from healthy turnips by methods similar 

 to those adopted with the potato medium; the results, however, were 

 not such as to make the using of turnips of any advantage. 



In testing for the percentage of gas present, a gasometer chart 

 was used and the amount of gas expressed in per cent, of the total 

 volume of the closed arm of the fermentation tube. 



All sugar tests have been done in quadruplicate, and all other 

 cultures made in duplicate, and in many cases in quadruplicate. 



In addition to the alcove vegetables a number of cultivated plants 

 and weeds were collected, prepared and inoculated in the same manner 

 as the vegetables. These experiments were carried out by Mr. F. L. 

 Drayton, a senior student in biology. 



All inoculations were done in triplicate. 



