250 SYMBIOSIS 



serie, qui a pu se constituer et quitloit s'enrichir aux depens de la premiere, 

 comprend les Rhizoctones saprophytes, ayant perdu toute activite, incap- 

 ables de contracter la vie commune avec des graines. 



This rather points to saprophytism, i.e., the exploitatory 

 and in-feeding method as the universal cause of loss of symbiotic 

 sense and of symbiotic capacity ; and it supports my contention 

 of the suspect character of Neottia-Symbiosis. The lesson seems 

 to be that the more a plant becomes converted to pure in-feeding, 

 the less is its inclination to Symbiosis. Some fungi, no doubt, 

 are " mixed " feeders, drawing partly on soil and partly on organic 

 matter, according to circumstances. The more they are made 

 to support themselves mainly on (earned) cross-food, the more 

 they are fit for work and Symbiosis in the best sense of the word, 

 [Prof. Bernard's "well-disciplined" Rhizoctonia showed again 

 and again their propensity for what I call " in-feeding " by 

 digesting cellulose.] 



Corroboration of my nutritional view may be seen in the fact 

 discovered by Prof. Bernard, that the symbiotic Rhizoctonia 

 lose their activity in greenhouses, where, only too frequently, 

 they are provided with temptations in the shape of rich (organic) 

 food, which, on my interpretation, causes them to become indo- 

 lent and merely self-regarding in-feeders (" holo-saprophytes "). 

 Having thus become too lazy for the duties of co-partnership, 

 they degenerate into " autonomy," i.e., into inefficiency, social 

 and organic. To expect symbiotic labours, symbiotic forbearance, 

 or symbiotic disposition of a pronounced order from a pampered 

 holo-saprophyte, is indeed " demander de la laine a un ane." 



With regard to the " modes de developpement," of orchids, 

 the French Botanist concludes that the formation of a " proto- 

 corm " must be regarded as a character acquired as a result of 

 developments inherent in a life of Symbiosis, i.e., in association 

 with fungi : 



En fait, chez les Orchidees a rhizome, le protocorme est le debut de 

 cet organe et, chez les Orchidees a bulbes, le protocorme tubeiise merite 

 d'etre considere comme le premier des bulbes produits par la plante. 



This protocorm is largely " infected " with fungi : 



L'apparition du protocorme marque pour ainsi dire la plus recente 

 etape de 1'evolution accomplie par I'innuence des Rhizoctones, mais assure- 

 ment des etapes anterieures nous echappent, car rrime les Bletilla vivent 

 deja avec leurs champignons dans un etat de symbiose bien caracterise. 



It remains to be seen, therefore, to what precise causes were 



