102 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



CUCURBITACEAE. 



1, — Melon (Cuciu)iis Melo, Linn.) 



Softened considerably with light brown liquid exudation on the 

 cut surface of the fruit. Smell of putrid fish. Action very strong. 



Morphology. 



Vegetative cells on beef peptone agar and on potato agar 15 

 hours old and grown at a temperature of 30°C. are short rods on each 

 medium; varying when grown on potato agar at 37°C. to long fila- 

 mentous rods. 



Limits of size grown at 30°C. are 1-3 m to 4 m long, the majority 

 having a length of 2 /x ; the average width is 7 fx. 



At 37°C. on potato agar the length varies from 6-5 m to 51-6 m, 

 the width being «96 m • On beef peptone agar incubated at 37°C. the 

 length varies from 1-3 m to 5-1 m, the majority being 2m-2-5 m long, 

 while the width is 9 /x. 



Cultural Characters. • 



Agar Stroke at 37°C. Iridescent, scanty growth, effuse, flat, 

 glistening, smooth, translucent and of a butyrous consistency; brown 

 by transmitted light. 



At 30°C. a rapid and moderate to abundant growth obtained; 

 otherwise, similar to above. 



Potato Agar Stroke at 37°C. Growth more abundant than on 

 beef agar; of a butyrous consistency; lustre dull to glistening and 

 colour porcelain white. 



Agar Stab at 37°C Scanty growth on the surface and along the 

 track of the needle; line of puncture filiform. 



Potato Agar Stab at 37°C Moderate growth on surface and along 

 the track of the needle; line of puncture filiform and medium much 

 darkened. 



At 30°C. the growth on beef agar and particularly on potato agar 

 was moderate to abundant, much better than when grown at 37°C. 



Note. — As shown by the photographs the temperature and medium used have 

 an important influence on the organism. These variations or involutions are 

 interchangeable in accordance with the variation of temperature and medium. 



From a beef agar culture grown at 30°C. inoculations were made on 

 beef agar and potato agar. 



Although subcultures had been made for two transfers the micro- 

 scopic appearance of the organism on beef agar and potato agar at 



