128 Brier ley, — Spore Germination in Onygena equina , Willd, 
equina , Willd., was found on the heather moorlands of the Peak District. 
This was left exposed on the roof of the botanical laboratory at Manchester 
University, and during the following two years continually produced fructi- 
fications of the fungus. 1 
Germination of ascospores. By carefully breaking open a mature asco- 
carp, pure sowings of the ripe spores may easily be obtained. These were 
placed in hanging drops of various strengths of nutrient media and kept at 
different temperatures, but the negative results only confirmed the experience 
of previous investigators. A preliminary treatment of the spores with 
artificial gastric juice, 2 or an admixture of this with the nutrient media, 
readily produced abundant germination after about five or six days at room 
temperature (i6°-i8° C.) or three to five days in an iftcubatorat 23° C. The 
nutrient media were those commonly employed in the laboratory, including 
various plant extracts, peptone, beer wort, &c. Germination occurred in all ; 
but good subsequent growth was only obtained in a few of those of animal 
origin, such as peptone and blood fibrin and the more special media 
described below. 
By accident, however, it was discovered that, given a sufficiently long 
resting period, direct germination may occur in the complete absence of any 
digestive treatment. Towards the end of January, the exact date being 
unknown, a number of mature fructifications were picked off the horn and 
placed in a tin box. This was lost sight of and only rediscovered when the 
room was turned out for its summer vacation cleaning. The sporocarps 
were again left lying in the box on a shelf, and it was only on September 13 
that the idea occurred to me that possibly the direct germination of the 
spores might be conditioned by a resting period. Hanging drops of water, 3 
gelatine, 4 and coarse glue 5 were immediately prepared, undigested spores 
from the dried and shrivelled fructifications sown, and the cells left at room 
temperature. On September 3 7 abundant germination was noted in the 
glue and gelatine and a vigorous growth resulted. On September 20 a few 
abnormal germ tubes, often dilated (Keimblasen), were noted from the spores 
1 The original intention was to make a detailed investigation into the development and physio- 
logical relations of Onygena , but as it now appears very improbable that opportunity will permit of 
this, the present fragment has been thought perhaps worthy of separate publication. 
2 Made according to the formula given by Marshall Ward, and consisting of 100 c.c. of 
0*4 % HC 1 (1*3 c.c. of commercial HC 1 in 100 c.c. H 2 0 ) added to 0*2 grm. pepsine dissolved in 
100 c.c. H 2 0 . 
3 Sterilized tap-water. 
4 100 grm. of gelatine in 1,000 c.c. of water. Filtered and sterilized in Koch steamer on three 
successive days. 
6 Fine or pale-coloured glues are usually treated with antiseptics. The coarse glue used was 
a very dark coloured impure substance in lumps broken out from a large solidified mass. It 
possessed a strong unpleasant smell and rapidly decomposed, and was obtained for me by a dealer, 
who described it as ‘first boiling’. Twenty-five grammes of this glue were added to one litre of 
water and heated until it dissolved. It was then filtered and sterilized in a Koch steamer on three 
successive days. 
