DopGE : METHODS OF CULTURE OF ASCOBOLACEAE 188 
occurs at this time. I have not found that the archicarps are 
produced more abundantly during any particular hour of the day. 
From the first stalk cell a hypha (d) now arises which apparently 
grows very rapidly, keeping close to the coil (FIG. 54). Similar 
branches (e) then emerge from the second or even the third cell 
and these appear to be the first enveloping hyphae. At this stage 
the tip of the trichogyne may sometimes be seen to be entirely 
free but lying close to the next adjacent turn of the coil. Develop- 
ment from this stage on takes place so rapidly that it is difficult 
to follow the process. By crushing small portions of agar con- 
taining ascogonia under the cover glass and staining with aceto- 
carmin or methylene blue, stages were found in which the tip of 
the trichogyne had actually applied itself to the branch from the 
lowest cell and perhaps fused with it. In several cases observed 
the point of contact is some distance back of the tip of this branch. 
It is quite possible that there is a fertilization at this stage and 
that the branch arising from one of the stalk cells is an antheridium. 
FIG. 55 shows the point of contact still farther from the tip than is 
ordinarily the case. When this cell was first examined no indica- 
tion of a fusion could be made out, but when the cover glass was 
Pressed down on the agar the spiral was partly untwisted and the 
@pparently fused cells were exposed to view. Fic. 54 shows 
another similar fusion. 
Many archicarps fail to produce apothecia. In these the spiral 
Ss More open and makes only one or two complete turns before a 
long tapering trichogyne is formed. The central cells are fewer 
im number, and the stout hyphae arising from the two or three stalk 
cells appear very early and extend straight out into the medium 
instead of up over the coil towards the trichogyne. The tricho- 
Syne tapers gradually into a slender tip (FIG. 57, c), or it may be 
Set off sharply from the larger cells by a very sudden narrowing 
(FIG. 56). Such forms as these are very conspicuous and should 
hie able for study. Although many attempts have been made 
W their development, no case was found in which the tricho- 
4 cogs in contact with a hypha from the basal cells. As noted, 
tigi ik ese cases observed developed apothecia or continued 
sen to he to any great extent. In one case the trichogyne ves 
© apparently fused with branches from neighboring 
