550 



DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES. 



of this process a chain of cocci 

 results, encased in a cylindrical 

 or ellipsoidal envelope. The chains 

 increase in length, become twisted 

 up, and eventually fall apart into 

 pieces of various lengths. 



In nourishing liquids a great 

 number of little masses are formed, 

 which adhere together, and produce 

 pseudo-parenchymatous structures. 

 These latter may join together, 

 forming still larger agglomerations. 



This micro-organism occurs occa- 

 sionally in beet-root juice and the 

 molasses of sugar-makers, forming 

 large gelatinous masses resembling 

 frog-spawn. The vegetation is so 

 rapid that forty-nine hectolitres of 

 molasses, containing 10 per cent, 

 of sugar, were converted within 

 twelve hours into a gelatinous 

 mass ; consequently, it is a for- 

 midable enemy of the sugar manu- 

 facturers. 



FIG. 219. LEUCONOSTOC MESENTEROIDES. 



1. Spores. 2. Spores after germination, showing gelatinous envelope. 3, 4, 5, 6. 

 Increase by division. 7. Glomerular form of zooglcea. 8. Section of an old 

 kowskif Z gloea " 9 * Cocci chains with arthrospores (Tieghem and Cien- 



The masses of zooglcea are of 

 almost a cartilaginous consistency, 

 and admit of sections being made 

 with a razor. After a long time 

 the envelope liquefies, and the cocci 

 are set free ; the latter introduced 

 into fresh nourishing media develop 

 new colonies. In the chains some 

 of the cocci become enlarged with- 

 out changing their form. These 

 acquire the properties of spores, 

 and are firthrospores. 



Micrococcus acidi lactici 



(Marpmann). Large cocci, singly 

 and in pairs. 



Colonies yellowish-white. 



On the surface of gelatine the 

 cocci produce a yellow layer. 



They grow in milk, producing a 

 reddish colour, and coagulation due 

 to the formation of lactic acid. 



They were isolated from milk. 



Micrococcus acidi lactici lique- 

 faciens (Kreuger). Cocci oval, 1 



