

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS 115 



they are tied in bundles and arranged in huge heaps, containing 

 sometimes 50 tons of tobacco. Hereupon active decomposition 

 rapidly ensues, and the temperature rises to 50 or 60 C. This 

 fermentation is due to bacteria, and was studied by Schloesing and 

 Suchslan, who used pure cultures of bacteria for the purpose of 

 favourably influencing the fermentation of tobacco, and producing 

 a definite aroma. There is some evidence to show that certain of 

 the family of Aspergillus co-operate with the bacteria in this process. 

 Throughout the needful operations in tobacco-curing the producer 

 has to contend with a number of micro-organisms which may produce 

 disease in the tobacco. 



The fermentation of cellulose is an example of bacterial action 

 which has been more or less widely applied to industry. The 

 process is due to Bacillus amylobacter, which acts, it is supposed, in 

 symbiotic relationship with some other organism incapable of 

 fermenting cellulose by itself. In relation to these so-called 

 industrial symbioses it will be remembered by some that Calmette 

 drew attention at the British Association Meeting at Dover (1899) 

 to the application of bacteria to various processes carried out in the 

 East. For example, the Japanese manufacture their scike with a 

 form of aspergillus described by Ahlburg in 1879, and the cau de vie 

 and vins de riz of the Chinese and Javanese have their source in 

 symbiotic fermentations. Thus, in many cases, without the manu- 

 facturer even knowing it, micro-organic ferments are utilised in 

 industrial operations. 



In all these applications it is obvious we have advanced only the 

 first stage of the journey. Nevertheless, here, as in nature on a 

 large scale in the formation of fertile soils and coal measures, we find 

 bacteria or their allies silently at work achieving great ends by 

 co-operating in countless hordes. 



