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K. ASO. 



from which the enzymes were precipitated with strong alcohol 

 and ether. After filtering and washing with strong alcohol, 

 they were dissolvod in a small quantity of water, precipitated 

 and washed with alcohol twice more. The enzymes thus obtain- 

 ed were dissolved in a small quantity of water, and to this 

 solution, a few drops of freshly prepared guaiacum tincture and 

 diluted hydrogen peroxide were added ; only a slightly bluish 

 colouration was obtained at first, but it became more and more 

 distinct after a few minutes. Prof. O. Loew, lately of this 

 college, found some years ago, that oxydase is not present, and 

 peroxydase present only in traces, in Koji. T. Takamuku of 

 this college found the presence of cytase in a small quantity in 

 Soja-koji. 



I. Preparation of Samples. 



I collected the spores of the fungus in the following way : 

 Tane-koji was prepared with roughly milled rice without mixing 

 any ash (1) ; and when the rice grains became covered with 

 innumerable spores, they were brought out from the cellar and 

 the spores were separated from the rice grains and the mycelium 

 by tapping the bottom of the culture boxes 00 inverted on a sheet 

 of paper. By this means, most of the spores were obtained on 

 the paper, and they were then sifted with a very fine silk sieve 

 to remove all impurities. The sample (3> thus obtained is of 

 course not absolutely, but only tolerably pure. C4) This sample 

 was exposed to the air in a balance room for two weeks and 

 kept in a bottle. It was used for organic analysis. 



In the same manner, I collected a second sample, which 

 was used for ash analysis. 



A third sample, which was used for special purposes, was 



(1) Tane-koji used in the Sake-factories is commonly prepared by mixing the ash 

 of oak-leaves and the spores with steamed rice. On the details of the preparation, see 

 J. Okumura's article in this Bulletin, Vol. Ill, No. 3. 



(2) The wooden boxes are commonly called Koji-buta. 



(3) One Koji-buta gave about tlvree grams of the sample. 



(4) I examined several portions of the sample under the microscope, but I did not 

 find any piece of the mycelium at all. 



