211) 



a little more conclusive if tlie i^entleman would try cultures to 

 see if they would grow. 



MR. WEIMEK: 1 agree with the Professor, and will say 

 that this specimen is now the property of the Forestry Depart- 

 ment, and I will kindly ask them to have a culture test made. 



DR. MICKLEBOROUGH: May I nmke a brief statement 

 with reference to the life of spores? I have a little vial with 

 me in Avhich I have the ascospores that I collected at CHad- 

 stone. New Jersey, on Memorial Day, 1008. I have examined 

 those spores from time to time, and find they are still alive. 

 How do we know they are alive? We can take, as I have done, 

 a five per cent, solution of pure glycerine, and the spores will 

 sprout in it. These ascospores will sprout and I have examined 

 the sproutings under the microscope, — the mycelium threads. 

 T was performing a miscroscopic test to harden spores for the 

 microscope, to make a permanent . mount, and I accidentally 

 found that, instead of hardening the spores, my five per cent, 

 solution of pure glycerine only was food for them and they 

 [>r()ceeded to sprout. 



Let me remind you that those little pieces of bark that I have 

 in the vial with me in my coat pocket have been kept dry, free 

 from moisture. If they had been out in the forest, or subjected 

 to the climatic conditions which fungi require, heat and moisture 

 both, I am very sure those spores would have been developed 

 and disseminated long ago. They would have lasted perhaps 

 but a few months; but you take them and keep them perfectly 

 dry, and I believe that you can prolong the life of the ascospores, 

 nnd probably the conidia, for several years. 



THE CHAIRMAN: Would it be well, gentlemen, to agree 

 upon a time for final adjournment, so that we may know what 

 we are working toward? I wish also to arrange for the Gov- 

 ernor to come in. Would it be well now to set a time for ad- 

 journment? 



A DELEGATE : I move you that we adjourn at 4.15 p. m. 



MR. PEIRCE : I move that the time be amended to 4 :30 p. m. 



jNTR. RODINE : I think it was announced at the beginning 

 of the session that we were to be favored by a farewell visit 



