BETTS : THE FUNGI OF THE BEE-HIVE. 133 
attempt was made to cultivate the majority of the fungi on nearly 
pure honey, but it was not successful. This result was to be 
expected; as honey in the hive is very rarely, if ever, attacked by 
fungi (other than. yeasts). 
Pollen, strained out of the pollen-decoction, freed as far as pos- 
sible from wax and cocoons, and with a little agar (less than 1 per 
cent.) to stiffen it, was used on one occasion for some of the fungi. 
Prune-decociion was prepared according to Duggar’s recom- 
mendation (9), 12 grammes of dried prunes to 100 ccm. of water. 
It was made up with either 1 or 3 grammes of agar per 100 ccm.; 
gelatine was tried, but presented no advantages. This medium was 
generally neutralized, and was frequently used with the addition of 
2 ccm. of litmus solution to every 100 ccm. as a test for the produc- 
tion of acid. 
Sugar-solution (10 grammes sugar to 100 ccm. water) with 2 
grammes agar and 2 ccm. litmus solution per 100 ccm., was also 
used. 
In addition to these, the following were experimented with in 
the case of several of the fungi :— 
Bread, potato, apple, milk gelatine, bouillon agar, rice, steril- 
ized hofse-dung, decoction of horse-dung made up with agar, and 
portions of brood-comb: (chiefly wax and cocoons) boiled down and 
sterilized. 
Owing no doubt to the use, as a rule, of acid media, bacteria 
did not give any trouble; but many cultures were rendered useless * 
by being overgrown with Penicillium or Citromyces, which were 
very plentiful on the material. 
The fungi were tested for cuticularization as follows. Specimens 
were placed in drops of concentrated sulphuric acid, hydrochloric 
acid, and saturated caustic potash solution, on slips, and covered 
with cover-glasses. The effects of these liquids were noted, both 
when cold, and after heating over a flame till bubbles were expelled. 
An incubator not being at my disposal, accurate determination 
of the germination-optima was not possible. Some experiments 
were however made with a view to getting some idea of the 
behaviour of the various fungi at different temperatures. Three 
exactly similar cultures of each species were started; one being 
exposed to temperatures ranging between 26 °—42° C., the second 
to room-temperature (15°—19° C.), and the third being placed out of 
doors.’ This experiment was repeated, in some cases more than 
once; the results agreed together very fairly. 
1Mild winter weather; or during cool weather in May. 
