386 
LON A. HAWKINS 
before for controls. The flasks were placed in an incubator and shaken 
frequently. At intervals some of the preparations, both unboiled 
and boiled, were removed from the incubator, the xylan precipitated 
and alcohol-soluble furfurol-yielding substances determined. 
In the experiments, the results of which are given in Table V, both 
Table V 
Production of Alcohol- soluble, Furfurol-yielding Material, and Substance Reducing 
Fehling's Solution, by Action of Extract of Fungus Mycelium upon Xylan 
from Rye Straw. 0.3 g. Xylan in Each Preparation. Yield in mg. 
Pentoses and mg. Cuprous Oxide 
Duration of Action 
Unboiled Preparations 
Cuprous Oxide 
Pentoses 
Cuprous Oxide 
Pentoses 
mg. 
mg. 
mg. 
237 
mg. 
9-5 
71.4 
99.8 
100.4 
100.8 
57-2 
63-5 
66.5 
66.3 
19.4 
9.0 
20.6 
9.4 
Boiled Preparations 
begmnmg 
4 days . . 
8 " . . 
12 " . . 
16 " . . 
the reducing substance and the furfurol-yielding material are given. 
In the other experiments (Table VI) only the latter was determined. 
It is evident from Tables V and VI that the hydrolysis of the 
Table VI 
The Production of Alcohol-soluble, Furfurol-yielding Substances by Action of Extract 
of Fungus Mycelium upon Xylan. Yield as mg. Pentoses 
No. of Experi- | . Amount of Xylan 
j^gjjj in Each Preparation 
Duration of 
Experiment 
Boiled Control 
0.3 
0.3 
At beginning 
20 hours 
44 " 
68 " 
106 " 
At beginning 
[ 20 hours 
66 " 
80 ^ 
At beginning 
j 12 hours 
36 " 
! 70 " 
i 94 " 
mg. 
34.1 
40.0 
41.2 
47-3 
19.0 
25.1 
31.0 
38.7 
13-5 
15.9 
17.2 
17.8 
mg. 
35-0 
38.2 
43-3 
44.0 
19.0 
254 
3I-I 
34-3 
■i3.8" 
16.1 
17.1 
17.7 
mg. 
9.7 
10.5 
' 8.8' 
9-9 
8.1 
