750 SUMMARY OF CUREENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



O. Schmidt also suggested merely tying the cuttings to strong suitable 

 strings. By the first plan there was too much shade ; by the second, 

 too much light. Buccich first constructed an apparatus composed 

 of two planks crossing each other at right angles, with a third as a 

 cover. This was so far successful that the cuttings were exposed on 

 all sides to the sea, and assumed the desirable round form. He then 

 made a modification consisting of two boards, 63 cm, by 40 cm. ; one 

 forms the bottom and the other the lid, and they are held parallel one 

 over the other at a distance of 42 cm. by two short stays, some 11 cm. 

 apart. In the space between these stays, stones can be placed as 

 ballast ; on the top of the cover is a handle. In both planks holes 

 are bored at 12 cm. apart. Buccich fastened the cuttings not simply 

 on the apparatus, but on sticks which were driven into the holes of 

 both boards. As material for the sticks the common Spanish cane 

 was used, whose siliceous rind is proof against the attacks of the pile- 

 worm. The sticks were 42 cm. long, and bored through at a distance 

 of 12 cm., the lower end being split. On each stick three sponge- 

 cuttings were fastened in such a manner that they should lie over the 

 bore-holes ; through these, wooden sticks were thrust, and each cutting 

 was thus fixed. 



When the sponge-cuttings are to be pegged only with wooden 

 nails, a triangular stiletto will suffice for piercing. When adopting 

 the method of fixing by sticks, such an instrument is not suitable, 

 because much too great force would be required to make an opening 

 to admit the sticks. Forcing and squeezing causes a loss of sarcode, 

 the minimizing of which is the first rule that governs all manipula- 

 tions of sponge. Buccich bored the cuttings with an auger with 

 toothed edges, 6 mm. broad, fixed to a vertical wheel driven rapidly 

 by a little pulley. While one hand quietly presses the sponge 

 against the borer, the other turns the wheel. In a few seconds the 

 operation is concluded ; the bore-hole is clean, the fibres are not torn, 

 and the sarcode does not run out. When a stick is filled with cuttings, 

 its split end is thrust into one of the holes in the support, and a 

 wedge is driven through the slit. As each bottom and top takes 

 24 sticks, carrying three cuttings apiece, one such apparatus will 

 accommodate 144 cuttings. 



During the whole manipulation, until the arranging of the sponges 

 is quite complete, they must be repeatedly and gently moistened with 

 sea water, especially in summer. The apparatus may be most con- 

 veniently let down and pulled up by means of a small anchor. The 

 depth may be 5 to 7 metres. 



If the cuttings hold fast after three or four weeks the propagation 

 is secure. A characteristic feature of the cuttings is their tendency 

 to assume a round form. To facilitate this on every side is the chief 

 aim of Buccich's system of supporting on sticks. As to the rate of 

 growth of the cuttings within a certain period, no rule can be given, 

 on account of the varying conditions. Buccich remarked that the 

 cuttings in the first year were two or three times as large as they were 

 originally ; he further remarked that the cuttings grew better in the 

 first and fourth years than in the second and third — a point evidently 



