37 



It is worth notice that the results of infection, which we obtained, are thus connected 

 naturally and harmoniously with the appearances displayed in the germination of spores, 

 especially on sai)rophytic substrata. The increase of the germs of infection in soil, especially 

 in manured earth, indicates a predominant infection of the germinating seedlings. The note- 

 worthy fact also that the spores of the loose smut of oats have retained their power of germi- 

 nation for many years and that they can 'remain capable of infection for a long time in the 

 earth indicates also an infection in the soil. 



The different results obtained here, on the one hand with loose smut of the Hordeaceae, on 

 the other hand with that of the .Avenaceae, should prevent the laying of too strong emphasis on 

 any single factor of infection. Externally the loose smut of oats does not differ essentially 

 from the other two forms. In its biological behavior is first shown the dissimilarity which would 

 have escaped observation when judging only by the character of the loose smut, as was done 

 earlier. 



