19° BOTANICAL GAZETTE [maech 



from alcohol when it is given together with the esters. This would 



areiie 



plasm or cell constituents. 



J 



Another possibility to be considered is the oxidation of alcohol 

 to acetaldehyde or even to acetic acid. This view becomes the more 

 probable on account of the ease with which alcohol is knowTi in many 

 mstances to be oxidized by organisms. This view would perhaps 

 explain also the increased stimulation of nitric acid over hydrochloric 

 acid, on the basis of the oxidizing power of nitric acid. Oxidation to 

 acetic acid, if it takes place at all, does not proceed to such an extent 

 that the acid accumulates in the cultures. 



To determine whether acetic acid was accumulated in the cultures, 

 10 flasks, with alcohol as an organic food, were inoculated in the usual 

 way. After a vigorous growth took place, the culture solution was 

 poured off, and after rinsing was replaced by a 0.3 GM. solution of 

 alcohol. After further 6 days this liquid was tested for acetic acid, 



Duld be detected. Duclaux also was unable to obsene. 



format 



with the intermediate formation 



of oxalic acid. I was unable to she .. .,„ ^ 



the cultures of PeniciUium, nor is it likely that this is formed. K 

 alcohol is assimilated by way of acetic acid the oxidation takes place 

 entirely within the cell. 



Another fact gained from the ethyl acetate cultures (table X) 



speaks against 



From the 



general principles resulting from the work on selective powe 

 organisms by Pasteur, Duclaux, and Pfeffer, we know that t 

 two foods of different nutrient value are given to a plant, the 

 most readily assimilated Ls used nft^n tn th^ ^^^inci^n ..f the- n 



Although the experiments 



> 



with ethyl acetate have not been carried 

 as far as might be desirable, there is some evidenre that arid accumu- 



in the cultures, consequentlv 



adHy absorbed 



acid. 



fot 



This, it would seem, would 



probable that this stops 



e, from which the formation of suears can proceed. It 

 be probable that the acetic acid in 



