400 
HARRY M. FITZPATRICK 
The spores of this fungus can be induced to germinate very readily 
in tap water or synthetic solutions practically lOO percent germination 
being obtained in twenty-four hours. The germinated spores were 
stained and permanent mounts of these made, the following method 
having been used. 
A drop of sterilized water was placed in the center of a sterilized 
glass slide, and a sporophore of the fungus was washed in this. Since 
the spores fall away easily, this procedure resulted in a spore suspension 
containing hundreds of spores. After a microscopic examination to 
determine whether a sufficient number of spores were present, this 
drop was drawn up into a small pipette. Several clean cover glasses 
were then provided, and a small drop of this spore suspension was 
transferred from the pipette to the center of each. These cover glasses 
were then inverted over van Tieghem cells. The hanging drop culture 
which was thus obtained could be examined frequently under the 
microscope, and the germination of the spores watched. 
When spore germination had progressed to the desired point the 
cover glass was carefully removed from the cell, and the spore sus- 
pension subjected to the fumes of osmic acid. The stopper was re- 
moved from a narrow-mouthed bottle containing a strong solution of 
the acid, and the cover glass was placed over the opening so that the 
drop hung inside enveloped in the fumes. Several minutes of this 
treatment were sufficient to effect fixation. In some cases this drop 
was then stippled upon a slide smeared with albumin fixative, the 
method recommended by Harper (17) being followed from this point. 
In other cases it was allowed to dry on the cover glass. The procedure, 
recommended by Harper, of diluting the suspension of germinated 
spores with a drop of Flemming's fixing solution, results in a scattering 
of the spores and gave less desirable preparations. After the spores 
had dried down on the cover glass or slide they were carried through 
the usual staining schedule. 
Endophytic Mycelium 
The hyphae of Eocronartium muscicola in the tissues of the host 
(figs. 1-4) are more irregular in shape and more frequently branched 
than those composing the sporophore. They vary considerably also 
in size, the threads in the larger cells of the basal portions of the gameto- 
phore being in general of larger diameter than those in the smaller 
embryonic cells of the apical point or those in the cells of the leaves. 
