446 The Botanical Gazette. [December, 
has the peculiar luster so characteristic of the freshly broken — 
surface of limestone. From the base of this shallow depres: — 
sion fine filaments radiate for a short distance into the gelatin, — 
Growth along needle track is barely visible, thus showing 
the aerobic nature of this germ. In three days, this super- 
ficial growth spreads slowly to the sides of the tube and the 
gelatin is slowly peptonized in horizontal layers, the liquefied 
material being filled with cloudy masses. An imperfect film 
that is easily ruptured is often to be observed on surface of 
culture. fl 
On agar, growth is copious but not especially character- — 
istic. The surface of the medium is covered with a dense 
white covering smooth in character. ye 
On potato jit also thrives luxuriantly as a thick grayish 4 
white coating covering nearly whole surface of potato. : 
Surface of growth is dull and mealy in texture. 3 
Conclusions. : 
It may be well to summarize briefly the results that asi 4 
been reached in the foregoing pages in the following ge a 
conclusions: 
I. Bacteria are present in the ocea 
high seas and in litoral regions, although they are 
abundant as they are in fresh water masses. ; 
2. While the bacterial flora of the sea bottom in spi 
investigated this year is not near so great, from : vee at the: 
standpoint, as that in the neighborhood of Nap ge pe 
accuracy of the general conclusions drawn from the corned 
ranean work in regard to the slime bacteria 1s streng : 
by the present season’s work. 
nic waters, both of the 
not so 
genous slime species. Forms that are prevalent vegetating 
masses above are also found in the mud layers in @ 
as well as in a latent stage of development. forms from the 
3. Disregarding the influence of introduced eae marine 
land, which is in this case very slight, the indige ‘sed. wi 
flora of both water and sea floor is largely comp" 
the limits of relatively few species. - shail localized 
These may often be distributed over more olitan in theif 
areas, and in some instances come to be cosmop 
