18 | NORTH AMERICAN SORDARIACEAE 
The large number of specimens of S. fimicola on hand from 
various regions induced me to attempt a determination of the 
period of vitality of the spores. These experiments were con- 
ducted in drop cultures in Van Tieghem cells. Eight cultures were 
prepared in duplicate, one set in water, the other in a decoction of 
horse manure. The difference in the solutions did not affect the 
germination in the least. The cultures were started on the roth 
of May. The oldest spores to germinate were collected in Octo- 
ber, 1896. A more vigorous growth than the latter could not be 
desired, even the olive-green spores growing in abundance and in 
an apparently normal manner. The next oldest specimens were 
collected in March, 1894, but they failed to germinate. Several 
specimens bearing an older date all failed to grow. It is not 
known to what conditions these specimens from various sources 
have been subjected. Doubtless some of them have been sub- 
jected to laboratory conditions which would entirely destroy their 
vitality. All that can, therefore, be claimed for the experiments is 
that they give as much light on the subject as the material at hand 
will permit; and simply offer a suggestion for future investigation 
when the proper material shall have been secured. That spores 
will remain in a normal condition over three and one-half years 
under the desiccating influence of laboratory temperatures has 
been shown. 
Another set of experiments begun on the second of March and 
continued for seventy-five days, although furnishing no information 
of great consequence, are quite interesting. Eight crops were ob- 
tained during this period, and each crop was obtained from spores 
of the next preceding one, the first being started from Vermont 
specimens. Some of the cultures were made on the trama of 
Polyporus betulinus and others on filter paper, and all cultures were 
made from spores which had been ejected by a natural process on 
the cover of the culture dish. 
Many experiments intended to determine the influence of ex- 
ternal conditions on development were unsuccessful owing to ac- 
cidents of one form or another, and the time limit prevented their 
repetition; but certain observations are worth recording. The 
most peculiar results were obtained from cultures made in the 
dark. As is well known Sordaria fimicola has perithecia which are ` 
