1916] 
ZELLER—PHYSIOLOGY OF LENZITES SAEPIARIA 493 
at 25°C. for 2 weeks. After this period the benzoic acid was 
dissolved out with petroleum ether, dried, and then recrystal- 
lized from water. From 50 ee. of a 1 per cent solution of hip- 
puric acid were obtained 0.24 grams of benzoic acid, or there 
was 65 per cent hydrolysis. The melting point was found to 
be 126°C. Since the melting point of hippuric acid is 187°C. 
and that of benzoic acid is 121°C., this was regarded as evi- 
dence that the crystals were benzoic acid. 
NUCLEASE 
The presence of nuclease has been demonstrated in various 
divisions of the plant kingdom. It performs an important 
function in decomposing the nucleic acids of plant cells, espe- 
cially in germinating seeds or wherever dissimilation is car- 
ried on. In the fungi nuclease has been found both in the 
lower and higher forms. Iwanoff (’03) studied the effect of 
cultures and enzyme extracts of Aspergillus niger and Peni- 
сит glaucum on nucleic acid, and observed that both species 
produeed the purin bases and phosphorie acid in the sub- 
strate. He claims that the nuclease is distinct from the pro- 
teolytic enzymes, for his enzyme extract would not liquefy 
gelatin. Dox (710) found that the nuclease of Penicillium 
Сатетеги is formed irrespective of the presence of nucleic 
acid in the culture medium. Kikkoji (’07) expressed the juice 
from an agaric, Cortinellus edodes, and 25 ee. of this in 150 ee, 
of a 2% per cent solution of the sodium salt of nucleic acid 
produced 28.7 mg. of phosphorus pentoxide in 5 days’ diges- 
tion. He considered this action due to nuclease, the juice 
being thermolabile. 
In my work with Lenzites заетата а 1 per cent solution of 
phyto-nuclein from yeast was prepared by dissolving the 
phyto-nuclein in N/20 sodium hydroxide and then neutraliz- 
ing. To 25 ce. of this solution 5 cc. of the enzyme dispersion 
were added with toluol as an antiseptic. Controls were set 
up by adding 5 ce. of autoclaved dispersion to the nuclein 
solution, and water controls made by adding 5 cc. of distilled 
water to the nuclein. This plan was followed both for mycelial 
and sporophoral dispersions. The flasks were incubated at 
