Edition, so as to increase their power ‘of resistence. 
_a further increase of the growth, combined with a powerful evolution of smell, 
4 
2) 
Lignum nephriticum. Some time ago, H. 1 Mller?) pronounced the 
the so-called Lignum nephriticum originated from the leguminous plant 
A Geianical investigation of the kinds ot vanilla cultivated in Tahiti has sal 
cussed on page 80 of this Report. 
Phyto-physiological Notes. - : 2233 
In an article, entitled “earthy smell”, H. Kiihl*) discusses the works of Berthelo 
and André, Rullmann and Salzmann®) on the odour emanating from earth, when du: 
over. Berthelot and André tried to explain it by the occurrence, in the soil, of a 
organic compound volatile with steam. Rullmann succeeded in tracing it bac 
to biological causes and isolated from various soils, as producer of the smell, ; 
bacterium which he called Cladothrix odorifer.. This was recognized later on as : 
radiated fungus and called Actinomyces odorifer. Interesting is the fact that on nutrie i 
gelatin odourless as well as odoriferous colonies are formed. If such odourless colonies 
were transferred on a nutritive medium rich in carbohydrates, such as sterilized 
pulp of soaked bread or peas, the odour was formed again. It is certain, theref | 
that carbohydrates were decomposed by Actinomyces with formation of the aromati 
to which the smell of the soil is due. In order to obtain this aromatic, Rullma 
extensively reared the microbe in a one per cent. milk sugar solution. After th 
weeks, the earthy smell was strongly developed. The bacteria colonies were th 
distilled in vacuo at 25 to 30° C. and the fractions passing over first, collected separatel 
they had a very strong earthy smell and an acid reaction. By shaking them with eth 
minute crystals were obtained, which refract the light rays twice and represent, i 
chemically pure state, the aromatic contained in freshly dug-over spring and autumn s: 
Salzmann’s publications tell us how, and under what conditions, the aromatic 
formed in the field soil. Acids, which in addition to the carboxyl group contain eit 
H, CH;, CH, or CHOH, are disdained by Actinomyces odorifer as sources of carbon. 
Salzmann observed that the fungus grew considerably if the acids contained a sec Vr 
carboxyl group. In case the. acids then contained at the same time the group CHOH 
the consequence. 
E. Herrmann’) published an article on the smell of mushrooms, containing 
hints regarding the gathering of mushrooms. Very often poisonous mushroo 
be distinguished from edible ones by their odour: however, it must not be 
~ 
1) Berichte d. deutsch. pharm. Ges. 28 (1913), 88; Report October 1918, 69. — ar 
92 (1914), 4; Report April 1914, 68. — 4%) Journ. Washington Academy of Sciences 1915, 5 
(1915), 754. — #) This species is not mentioned in the Index Kewensis. — *) Naturw. | bo 
sy ee 
Zig. 4 (1915); 102. — 8) See Chem. Zentralbl. 1902, Ls 1069. Se! Pharm. Lenina. ‘v6 915), | 
