390 TORULACE^E. 



These organisms penetrate all kinds of organic substances and 

 develop therein, frequently to a surprising extent. For instance, 

 the thick white to whitish yellow coatings found on stored 

 sausages consist sometimes of these fungi exclusively. Milk, 

 butter and cheese also afford a favourable environment, and they 

 occasionally develop abundantly in bread. 



The numerous biological investigations of water, for brewing 

 purposes in particular, have shown that river water is often very 

 rich in budding fungi belonging to the morphological circle of the 

 Torulacece. Budding fungi are also found in sea water, especially 

 in northern regions ; and some of these organisms are evidently 

 Torulacece. 



Establishments where dairying and fermentation industries of 

 all kinds are carried on form a chief habitat of these budding 

 fungi ; and they develop enormously not merely in the raw 

 materials and products, but also in the air of all the rooms, in the 

 walls of the fermentation- and store-rooms, and on the utensils 

 employed. 



The form and dimensions of the cells vary considerably, more 

 particularly in members of the second sub-group. Cells of one 

 and the same species, grown in a given nutrient medium, often 

 vary but slightly, though sometimes to a not inconsiderable extent, 

 so that purely globular forms are accompanied by oval and more 

 or less elongated types of pastorianus cells, especially in very old 

 cultures. In species producing globular cells on the average, a 

 few sausage-shaped or irregularly formed daughter cells are 

 developed ; and even those resembling Sacch. apiculatus are 

 regularly observed in certain species. The shape of the cells is 

 influenced by the reaction and composition of the nutrient 

 medium ; and above all by the presence of certain sugars. 



The cell dimensions of members of the first group vary within 

 wide limits ; and the cells of certain species may almost be 

 mistaken for those of globular bacteria. 



A very remarkable form that appears regularly, not only in 

 the Torulacece, but also (though to a smaller extent) in the 

 Saccharomycetes, is that of giant cells (see p. 118, vol. ii.), the 

 dimensions of which greatly exceed the average size. These giant 

 cells, occurring regularly (so far as observation has extended) in 

 the second sub-group of the Torulacece,^ are often found in a 

 decrepit condition. Whether they are abnormal, or cells endowed 

 with certain physiological functions, cannot be decided at 

 present. 



Still greater variety exists in the form and size of the cells of 

 the second sub-group with mixed cells. Cells agreeing in form 

 and size with those of the first sub-group are accompanied by 

 club-shaped, sausage-shaped and filamentous cells of all grades. 

 Other species develop very thin and graceful cells; and the 

 spindle-shaped cell, tapering off at both ends, is a not infrequent 



