322 Transactions of the Society. 



■with Dr. Clir. Hansen, of the Carlsherg Laboratory, Copenhagen, 

 who has given much time and attention to the microscopic fungi. 

 Dr. Hansen kindly informed me that the mould I had described to 

 him was either Fusarium gramineavum or some closely allied 

 species ; and that its life-history had not been traced. Seeing 

 that this was the case, and feeling an interest in the matter, I 

 endeavoured to obtain a closer knowledge of the mould by cultiva- 

 tion on natural and artificial nutrient substances, and frequent 

 examination under the Microscope at different stages of its growth. 

 Where a low magnifying power was required, a combination of a 

 Eoss's B eye-piece, and 1-iu. objective was used ; for a more 

 minute examination the same eye-piece and l-5th in. objective 

 (Eoss) were employed. 



To the maltster the appearance of these red corns is probably not 

 unfamiliar, though they are only seen in any quantity during the 

 malting of inferior barleys. The mould is chiefly at the germinal 

 end of the corn, and exhibits a conspicuous crimson colour. I will 

 reserve further remarks on the character of the affected corns till a 

 later part of these notes. 



To proceed now to the examination of the crimson- coloured 

 matter on the exterior of the corns affected with the mould. A 

 small quantity was detached and gently stirred into a drop of water 

 on a glass slide, a cover-glass being then pressed on to it. On 

 applying a high magnifying power large numbers of crescent- or 

 spindle-shaped bodies were perceived, together with filamentary 

 fragments, starch-granules, and amorphous matter tinted with the 

 red colouring (see plate V. fig. 6), The question naturally arises as 

 to the origin of this and commoner forms of mould, to which barley 

 and other cereals, under certain conditions, fall a prey. It is well 

 known that the air of populous districts contains various and mul- 

 titudinous particles in suspension, which are being constantly 

 deposited on resting surfaces as dust, and it has been shown by 

 eminent scientists, that the dust (which consists for the most part of 

 microscopic particles) includes various organisms such as bacteria, 

 infusoria, ferment-cells, and spores of the commoner moulds, gene- 

 rally in a state of desiccation. An experiment was made to determine 

 the constituents of the dust adherent to barley. A quantity of barley 

 (about 50 gms.) was steeped in a suitable volume of water for about 

 12 hours, the containing vessel being occasionally well shaken ; at 

 the end of the time and after shaking once more, the water was 

 poured off, a little fresh water being then added, which after 

 shaking up and separating from the barley (which was neglected), 

 was added to the first portion and the whole put into a glass 

 cylinder, the suspended matter being allowed to settle. After a 

 minute or two had elapsed the liquid was poured off from the 

 coarse particles and put into a second cylinder, where it was allowed 



