100 MICRO-ORGANISMS AND FERMENTATION. 



tained 3 -4 per cent, by volume of alcohol. Mucor Mucedo has 

 only a comparatively feeble fermentative power both in wort 

 (up to 3 per cent, by volume of alcohol) and in maltose and 

 dextrose solutions. Mucor racemosus produces in wort as 

 much as 7 per cent, by volume of alcohol, develops invertase, 

 and ferments the inverted cane-sugar ; thus, as mentioned 

 above, it stands quite alone. 



Mucor circinelloides is, according to Gayon, without 

 action on cane-sugar, whilst it exercises a very powerful 

 action on invert-sugar (yielding 5' 5 per cent, by volume of 

 alcohol). "Oayon concluded from this that this mould might 

 with advantage be employed to extract the cane-sugar from 

 the molasses in the manufacture of sugar. So far, however, 

 as I have been able to learn, this observation has not yet 

 received any practical application. 



6. MONILIA. 



Under this name are found described in works on 

 mycology a large number of different fungi of comparatively 

 simple structure ; from a mycelium, the colour of which 

 varies according to the species, branches are thrown up, which 

 give rise to series of egg-shaped or elliptical spores. The 

 genus has lately attracted interest on account of one of its 

 species, which Hansen has provisionally named Monilia 

 Candida, from Bonorden's description, and which shows very 

 remarkable physiological properties. It occurs in nature in 

 the form of a white layer covering fresh cow-dung, and on 

 sweet, succulent fruits. When introduced into wort, it 

 develops a copious growth of yeast-like cells, which resemble 

 Saccharomyces ellipsoidetis, or cerevisice. At the same time 

 it excites a vigorous alcoholic fermentation, and whilst this is 

 progressing forms a mycoderma-like film on the liquid ; the 

 cells of this film extend more and more, and finally form a 

 complete mycelium. In the first period the fungus produced 

 only 1-1 per cent, by volume of alcohol, whilst Sacch. cerevisice 

 gave 6 per cent. ; but the Monilia continued the fermentation, 



