294 FORMATION OF SLIME OR GUM BY RBIZOB1UM LEGUMINOSARUM. 



nitrogen showed a gain equal to 0"01 % of asparagin. If the 

 ubiquitous and multifarious Bac. levaniformans is the same bac- 

 terium as Beijerinck's Granulobacter, then he experimented with 

 the same three bacteria and found that the gain was due to 

 Azotobacter. My experiments, which are in progress, indicate 

 that Bad. radiobacter, and not Azotobacter, is the active nitrogen- 

 gainer. An extension of the experiments has shown that some 

 races of Rhizobium leguminosarum, e.g., Robinia, are capable of 

 forming a comparatively luxuriant slime on nitrogen-free, dex- 

 trose media in combination with Bac. levaniformans, which does 

 not form slime (levan) from that sugar. The quantity of slime 

 indicates that there may be a gain of nitrogen. The matter is-, 

 however, under investigation. — July 19th, 1906. 



