320 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
The effect of dilution with tap water was tried with the results 
shown in the following table: 
TABLE iat 
THE EFFECT UPON ROOT HAIRS oF TRADESCANTIA OF BOG WATER DILUTED WITH TAP 
Root HAIRS 
Bos St | ce 
EXP ae 2 * 
patton | oom | Sie | Maths | Noe 
Seattle bog. 22.2... I 3 5 aes, S, 
meattle bop..." .. - ie + II ie 
WOR eer: To 3 7 3 
leroy bog ite) 3 sie) i 
Fauntleroy bog .... 5 r 5 se es “at 
Fauntleroy bog .... 10 to 3 5 4 I 
From this it appears that the toxin is present in such small 
amounts that slight dilution greatly decreases the toxic effect: 
This is in line with the results obtained by Livincston (7) on 
Stigeoclonium. 
Three samples of water from the Henry bog were boiled until 
each was reduced to one-eighth of its original volume. Tradescantia 
cuttings were placed in them. Few roots started, no root hairs 
were formed on them, and the plants soon died. 
The effect of filtering bog water from the Henry bog through 
filter paper was tried. The water was collected on October 10, 
1911, and three plants were grown init. They all produced normal 
root hairs. 
A preliminary investigation was made as to the presence and 
activities of bacteria in the Seattle bog and the Henry bog. Briefly 
the results may be stated as follows. 
1. Beans, peas, and corn decay just as readily in bog water as 
in tap water. 
2. Fresh beef decays a little more slowly in bog water collected 
in a sterilized jar and kept sealed than it does in tap water under 
=o same conditions. 
. The amount of difference in the rate of decay of pieces of 
—s beef buried in bogs and of other pieces buried in swamps is 
very slight, it being a little more rapid in swamps. 
