[Vou 2 
804 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
by the phloroglucin test or by sugar determinations, even after 
60 days. 
THE ACTION OF ALGAL “DIFFUSION-EXTRACTS” UPON CELLULOSE 
AND HEMICELLULOSE 
Experiments were carried out to determine the presence 
or absence of cellulose hydrolysing enzymes in the algae, and 
to this end several methods were employed. First, strips of 
filter paper were placed in test-tubes and entirely covered with 
20 cc. of ‘‘diffusion-extract.’’ Checks were maintained with 
distilled water and also with the ‘‘diffusion-extract’’ alone. 
The series were set up in duplicate—one kept at room tem- 
perature and the other at 35°C., both with toluene as an anti- 
septic. After definite intervals during a 60-day period, the 
contents of the tubes were tested for reduction. None was 
observable in any case, and microscopic examination of the 
filter paper failed to reveal any decomposition whatsoever. 
A double series was then set up in a similar way, except 
that 2 grams of fresh, crushed algal tissue were added to the 
tubes instead of the ‘‘diffusion-extract,’’ together with 20 ce. 
of distilled water. At the periods noted above, microscopic 
examination revealed no attack. It was thought an inherent 
difference between algal and filter paper cellulose might be 
responsible for this absence of action. Accordingly, cellulose 
was prepared from the tissue of Ascophyllum after the 
method described by Fowler (711, p. 159) and used by Cooley 
(714). Fifty grams of air-dried tissue were placed in a liter 
flask, 500 ce. of distilled water added, and the lot placed in 
the autoclave at 15 pounds for 15 minutes to destroy any 
cellulase that might be present, and also to extract as much 
as possible of the water-soluble substances. The water was 
filtered from the tissue, fresh water added, and the flask 
placed in an incubator at 35°C. It was kept at this tempera- 
ture with daily changes of water for 10 days, at which time 
the water-soluble constituents seemed to be almost entirely 
removed. The treatment from here on was the same as that 
described by Cooley. To the tissue was added a liter of 
potassium-chlorate-nitric-acid solution made up in the pro- 
portion of 30 grams of potassium chlorate to 520 ee. of nitric 
