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1898] SOCIETY FOR PLANT MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY 109 
root shrivels in places, becomes very black, and finally breaks 
down here and there, with the formation of a sticky exudate 
composed of bacteria. Cultures from the interior of blackened 
foots remained sterile. Cultures from the syrupy exudate 
yielded an organism resembling, so far as tested, that described 
by Busse as the cause of the disease. It is yet too early, how- 
ever, to say whether the organism isolated is identical with 
Bacillus betae Busse, or whether it is in any sense a true parasite. 
It appears worth mentioning, inasmuch as it seems to be rather 
common, and destroys cane sugar, and grape sugar, with the 
formation of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and an acid. Possibly 
this is one of the organisms which has given trouble to the 
chemists in sugar diffusion work, inverting the cane sugar and 
liberating gases. Cultures on steamed and raw beets, on 
steamed potato, and in fermentation tubes were exhibited. On 
steamed slices of sugar beet there is a copious production of 
gas, 
6. Are blepharoplasts distinct from centrosomes ?: MR. HERBERT 
}. Wesper, Department of Agriculture.—Blepharoplasts, the 
Speaker pointed out, are special organs of the spermatic cells 
of Zamia, Ginkgo, and some Filicineze and Equisetinee, which 
certain Stages of their development somewhat resemble cen- 
troso; : - sie 
rots. Two are formed in each generative cell, arising de 
x m bie cytoplasm on opposite sides of the nucleus, and 
noo between the nuclear membrane and cell wall. 
ts division ss the generative cell results in the formation of 
a one blepharoplast being located in each 
and cell. During this division the blepharoplasts burst 
a Se apes membrane becomes gradually extended into a 
anthero any spiral band from which the motile cilia of the 
zoid are developed. 
Het - haroplasts resemble typical centrosomes: (1) in 
(2) in ha Was located on the opposite sides of the nucleus, and 
ae ving the kinoplasmic filaments focused upon them dur- 
Jour. Soc. Chem, Ind. 14 :876, 
