April, 1910.] 
The Bacterial Flora. 
141 
TABLE II. 
Transpiration Data for Solutions Inoculated Jan. 15, 1910, With 
Pure Cultures of Bog Bacteria. 
Series 
Bacteria 
Transpiration in Grams 
Comparative 
Percentage 
decrease 
V 1 1 
5th day 
(Feb. 
4th) 
10th 
day 
1 5th 
day 
Total 
transpiration 
Check 
Normal 
17.65 
36.20 
36 . 60 
90 . 45 
100. 
0. 
bog 
water 
7.65 
11.30 
8.90 
27 . 85 
30 . 79 
69.21 
B. 25 
18.15 
29 . 30 
26 . 85 
74.30 
82.14 
17.86 
B 1 cc. 
18.27 
30 . 1 5 
25.70 
74.12 
81 .94 
18.06 
B. 13 
15.72 
24 . 65 
30 85 
71.22 
78.74 
21.26 
B. 2 
1 7 45 
29 . 05 
24 . 30 
70.80 
78.27 
21 .73 
B. 1 
16.60 
2 s 95 
24 . 85 
70.40 
77 . 83 
22.17 
B. 27 
12.60 
24 . 90 
22.80 
60.50 
66.66 
33 . 34 
B. 6 
1 4 . 00 
25. 10 
20.80 
60.20 
66 . 65 
33.45 
B. 4 
1 1.95 
23 . 80 
20 . 45 
59.20 
65 . 46 
34 . 54 
B. 29 
11.60 
15.55 
1 5 . 85 
43 . 00 
47 . 54 
52 . 46 
Atmometer 
1 14 grs. 
117 grs. 
102 grs. 
in that solution disclose a gradually intensified power of resist- 
ance and a physiological phase marked by a greater functional 
activity. The maximum rate of transpiration occurred on the 
fifteenth day as in the control, while that of all remaining cul- 
tures appeared on the tenth day. As compared with the control 
the inoculated cultures, it will be observed, have reduced the 
transpiration quantity of wheat plants from 20% to 52%. 
Another matter is the degree in which individual plants vary in 
tolerance and resistance. When the bacteria are omitted from 
the sterilized solution no evidence of toxicity is noticeable for the 
wheat plants growing in the solution, and their variability in 
growth, and green and dry weight deviates but little from the 
common norm. But when inoculated the culture medium 
becomes a condition always active in stimulating or depressing 
normal functions. The task of securing a co-ordination between 
functions of absorption, transpiration, and transport becomes, 
indeed, a complicated one for the plants, varying greatlv within 
the same species and with different species. The analysis of 
these experiments has strengthened the conviction that the best 
functioning plants rather than the general average represent the 
proper test of the possibilities of agricultural plants under the 
given conditions, and that adjustment to conditions is a more 
