7 



per cent, of the total weight of the pluni9 Neither in these plums, nor in the grapes first experimented 

 on bv Pasteur, could any trace of the ordinary alcoholic leaven be found. As previously proved by 

 Leihai tier and Bellamy, the fermentation was the work of the living cells of the fruit itself, after air 

 had been denied to them. When, moreover, the cells were destroyed by bruising, no fermentation ensued. 

 The fermentation was the correlation of a vital act, and it ceased when life was extinguished." — {Ti/w 

 dull.) 



With all these various agencies producing alcohol, there is a great diffusion of it over the surface of 

 the earth. Muntz has found that it is present in the soil and in water, and not only in water but in snow 

 so that it wouhi appear that this substance is contained even in air. 



There are many ferments which interfere in the process of alcoholic fermentation, and most 

 Geima 1 beers now are made of a lo ( v temperature in order to exclude the operation of various disturb- 

 ing ferments. 



The lactic ferment found in milk, which has turned sour, interferes also with alcoholic fermentation 

 forming lactic acid. The acidity can be prevented in milk, by boiling, and thus killing the germs. 



Sugary liquids are also li.ible to viscous fermentation, due to a germ, somewhat larger than yeo9t, 

 wh'ch changes sugar into mannite ;ind gum. 



The buiyiic ferment is another germ which changes glucose into butyric acid. It has boon said 

 that it is this germ which gives rum its peculiar flavour. It is found in the digestive canal of man and 

 other animals, its particular function there apparently being to transform cellulose which is consumed 

 for instance, in potatoes or yams, into glucose, while the starch grains released from their cellulose en- 

 velope are changed by the diastase already mentioned. 



The special kind of fermentation known as putrefaction is produced by bacteria which decompose 

 only proteid substances, that is, those having the same chemical composition as the white of egg. The 

 decomposition is easily recognized by the odours of such gases as ammonia, and sulphuretted hydrogen. 

 The ammonia which originates in this way in soils to which air has access is changed through the in- 

 fluence of another bacterium into nitrites and nitrates, which also appears to act on ammonia salts. This 

 process is of great interest to the agriculturist, for their crops can only obtain the nitrogen which is an 

 essential portion of their substance from the nitrates in the soil. Therefore it is first of all necessary 

 to have decaying animal or vegetable matter in the soil, and then to ensure favourable conditions for 

 the action of the ferment of nitrification. If there is an excess of organic matter, the nitric ferment 

 does not develop until the special ferments of putrefaction have done their work. Plants, therefore, 

 cannot make use of manure until it has well decayed, for it is only then that it will yield nitrates. 

 Water must not remain too long on the soil, otherwise the action of this ferment ceases ; we thus see the 

 necessity for good drainage. Burning the soil renders it sterile, for the germs are killed and tin de- 

 caying matter is burnt into ash. Air is essential to the action of the ferment, and therefore it is desi- 

 rable to plough la ids deep, especially clayey soils through which air has a difficulty in passing. 



There is no time to do more than simply refer to the connection between specific germs and 

 diseases. This subject is attracting a great deal of atteution at present, and important results have 

 already been obtained. 



In conclusion, I wish to call attention to the work which is done by these minute organisms in 

 keeping the surface of the earth habitable. The solid bodies which have been formed out of gases and 

 liquids by living beings are insoluble in water, and are not available in this condition to be resolved on 

 death into their constituent parts. Animal life is dependent for its food ultimately on plant, life, and 

 therefore unless there existed some arrangement in nature by means of which dead plants and animals 

 were resolved into their elements, which could be again rc-combiued into plant forms, there would be 

 an accumulation everywhere on the earth's surface of vast piles of the dead bodies of plants and animals 

 while air, soil, and water would gradually be exhausted of the elements necessary to veg -tabh life, and 

 consequently all life would come to an end. It is to Pasteur that the honour is due of having first 

 clearly pointed out that the necessary mechanism for the destruction of organic matter, the breaking 

 up of the complex organic compounds, is found in the action of living beings so minute that they can 

 only be >een under a microscope. The consequences of the work of the infinitely small may be infinitely 

 great. 



W. Fawcett. 



FREE GRANTS OF PLANTS. 



Free grants are occasionally made from the surplus stock only to public institutions, but it will 

 save some correspondence, if information in the following particulars are forwarded wit h the applica- 

 tion : — 



(1.) Are the plants required solely for the grounds of the public institution named ? 

 (2.) Are these grounds fenced secuiely against the intrusion of goats, pigs uud cattle? 

 (3.) Do you undertake to keep the fences in proper order? 



(4.) Is there anj' provision for watering theplaais, and tending them while young by keeping 

 down weeds, &c. 



^5 ) Do you undertake to have holes dug for the plants before you send for them, and to have 



them planted at once when received? 

 (6 ) What is the area of the ground ? 

 (7.) Are there any trees or shrubs already growing? 

 (8.) Describe the situation and soil. 

 Carriage of the plants from the Gardens to Kingston must be paid for b?fore they are sent away. 



Noik. — A subscription of 2s. will ensure the delivery at any Post Office in Jamaica of 12 numbers of the Bulletin. 

 Application may b.s made at any of the Gardens, or by post, to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, tiordon. 

 Town t'.O., Jamaica. 



