264 The Botanical Gazette. (July, 
to certain normal influences, gradually regain its pristine 
characteristics and virulence. “agi 
This suggestion is only offered as a possible hypothesis for 
the explanation of apparent racial peculiarities in the micro 
symbionts of the tubercles. It must stand or fall only bya 
very comprehensive and thoroughgoing investigation. Ifit — 
should be proven to be a correct one it would help to explain — 
some of the conflicting observations upon the morphology of — 
the organism. : 
Its solution one way or the other must be the crowning 
sult of the remarkable series of investigations that have thus — 
far contributed to a knowledge of one of the most abstruse 
problems of biological science, and would give a firm 
foundation for the most rational treatment of the economit 
phases of the subject. 
Synonymy. ’ 
The question of generic synonymy and classification also 4 
deserves consideration. Protomyces and Schinsia to Wak® — 
the organism was referred at successive times by Frank cat 
not stand because the fungi first associated with these Lage 
would have precedence over the present one. age - 
which Beyerinck referred it, can not be retained, since, ® 
Prazmowski has shown, we do not at present know of an 
are n that, evel 
genous spore formation, and also for the reaso mee 
according to Beyerinck, the organism is not a true SC ‘i 
cete. The latter reason would disqualify Bactrim eo 
location proposed by Prazmowski. Franks pier regntic| 
based on a micrococcoid form which at least couldn al - 
sent a minute form of the organism, leaving out of pe é3 
tion entirely, as Frank dces, the hypha form 4s " 
his Rhizobium. jon 
Laurent is not justified then in emending by ie : 
genus based on a micrococcoid form, to include a 
the important characters of which the author oi 
says form no genetic connection with his de ap Laurent’s 
it can not be justly emended from either Fran ‘a tubercles 
Rhizobium to embrace only the bacteroids of t 
Schneider has done. . Frank’s Rhist 
However, Schrceter’s Phytomyxa anton a determine 
btum. It is, moreover, a very easy mae Dhytomysh ve 
the fungus from Schreeter’s description | th genus amon 
though the author may have erred in placing 
