94 



K. ASo. 



in the bulb of Allium cepa obtained by Stoklasa contained 

 1.68% of iron. According to Molisch iron is an essential 

 constituent of fungi ; but others only admit that it is useful. 

 Traces of iron, sufficient for a large amount of mycelium, are 

 often contained in the nutriments furnished to the fungi, which 

 naturally take it up. K. Yabe 0) of this college states that he 

 observed, during his studies on the developement of this Asper- 

 gillus under different conditions, that only in those solutions 

 which contained some iron, spores were developed ; which 

 shows, in accordance with the view of Molisch, the importance 

 of this element for the fungus. The percentage of oxide of iron 

 in the common rice grains (not whitened) in Japan is 1.63 in the 

 ash ^ and according to the recent investigation by Bunge, c3) 

 rice grains contain 1-2 milligrams of iron in 100 parts of dry 

 matter. Aspergillus-spores contained relatively more iron than 

 rice grains. Doubtless, this iron must have been derived from 

 the rice grains. 



The sulphuric acid in the ash is derived perhaps exclusively 

 from the sulphur of the proteids, by oxidation during the in- 

 cineration process. The presence of silica and lime in the ash is 

 perhaps just as accidental as that of chlorine and soda. These 

 four substances are not necessary for the developement of the 

 lower fungi. Nor do the more complex members of the higher 

 fungi probably require silica or soda ; but as to lime, we can not 

 yet say anything definite as to whether it is required by such 

 complicated fungi as Phallus, Agaricus, Morchella. 



Of great interest is the high percentage of potash and 

 phosphoric acid ; and on this point, there is a close analogy 

 with the seeds of phanerogams. The following table shows the 

 comparison of K 2 0 and P 2 O r , in the ash of the seeds of higher 

 plants and that of the spores of the fungus : 



(1) Bull, of Agric. .College. Vol. III. No. 3. 



(2) This Bull. Vol. I. No. 12., Kellner and Nagaoka. 



(3) Zeit. Physiol. Chem., 1898, 25. 



