1922] TANNER—FLAX RETTING 183 
Vegetative cells: The vegetative cells grown on common media 
were large rods with a dense protoplasm. Many of the cells pre- 
sented a granular structure. Iodine staining indicated the presence 
of starchy materials. 
Spores.—Spores are formed which are larger than the vegeta- 
tive cells, giving the cells the shape of a Clostridium. The spores 
were found to resist heating for thirty minutes at 80°C. Further 
studies on their thermal resistance seemed uncalled for in a study 
of this nature. 
FERMENTATION REACTIONS.—Large amounts of gas were formed 
in lactose, glucose, saccharose, and glycerol. In most of these 
fermentation tubes there was a pronounced odor of butyric acid. 
ITMUS MILK.—Litmus milk was quickly decomposed; the 
curd was peptonized with large amounts of organic acids, princi- 
pally butyric. 
GELATIN.—Gelatin was quickly liquefied at 20° C. 
PLAIN BROTH.—The broth was rendered cloudy with a pre- 
cipitate only after a long period of growth. 
Nirrates.—Nitrates were reduced with the formation of nitrites 
and ammonia. 
That this anaerobic organism is common in nature and on the 
stalks of the flax plant was shown in several ways. It was found 
to be present repeatedly on the stalk of flax by simply soaking it 
in distilled water. After about thirty hours a vigorous evolution 
of gas would start, which ceased in about forty-eight hours at room 
temperature. This could be reproduced at will. That the organ- 
ism is present in soil was shown by adding garden soil to tubes of 
sterile flax in distilled water. All evidences of a rapid retting 
started in twenty-five hours, and was completed in forty-eight 
hours. Pure cultures of this anaerobe removed the carbohydrate 
binders in the flax stalk in forty-eight hours at room temperature 
(26°-32° C.). The fermentation is accompanied by a vigorous 
evolution of gas, which is forced out of the stalk, clinging to the 
side until the bubble is large or some jar removes it. The liquid 
becomes turbid and has a strong characteristic odor. 
Whether pure cultures of this anaerobe would be valuable in 
retting is probably doubtful, since the organism is so widely 
tributed in nature. Several experiments were carried out to deter- 
