. 
Solution were placed in test tubes to which equa 
‘ng from 0.1% to 10°, Several test tubes containing n 
Influence of the ether even more readily than in the c 
ae ge arte 
_ sHewitsch in his interesting work, 
1899] EFFECT OF ETHER UPON GERMINATION 465 
The spores of Penicillium grew more rapidly than the spores of 
Mucor, whether they remained in the ether atmosphere or were 
temoved to an ether-free atmosphere, and in both cases the 
Penicillium had formed an abundance of spores at the end of 
thirty-six hours after germination. The Penicillium that had 
begun to germinate at the end of ten days in the ether atmos- 
phere was left undisturbed during the next twenty days, remain- 
ing throughout this time perfectly white, instead of assuming its 
characteristic bluish-green color, although it was full grown; and 
the spores had formed in abundance. It was also observed that 
the patches produced by the fungus did not seem to increase in 
size,as if the spores formed in the ether-atmosphere had lost 
power to germinate. When those spores were removed and 
Placed in an atmosphere free from ether, they germinated in 
about twelve hours, produced fruit in forty hours, and assumed 
the characteristic bluish-green color. If a still stronger atmos- 
phere of ether was used, e. g., 15%, the results were practically 
_ the same as if only 10° of ether were used. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
Since it is evident that an atmosphere of ether of proper 
_Sttength is capable of preventing the vital action of seeds and 
Spores without necessarily destroying the life of those organisms, 
it isimportant to inquire into the cause of this inactivity. Is it 
; due to the inability of the ferment to transform the food mater- 
_ lal into compounds that may be used by the plants; or is it due to 
some influence produced upon the protoplasm? 
a investigate this first point, definite quantities of starch 
| quantities of 
ee were added, and also definite quantities of ether, vary- 
eo ether 
It was observed that the starch 
r was transformed under the 
ontrol 
mete Provided for comparison. 
In the tube containing 0.1% of ethe 
ees with the observations of 
& : At z 
Xperiment, a circumstance that agr 
“Physiologische Untersuch- 
