186 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
where it had been attacked by the borer. When the canes 
were cut up, the whole cellular structure became of a dark 
red. This colouring matter was found to be soluble in 
alcohol, but insoluble in water, although it appeared to be in 
solution in the cell contents when sections of the coloured 
portion were examined under the microscope. The colouring 
matter is probably due to the presence of a bacterium or 
fungus similar to the monos pro digiosa of Ehrenberg.* The 
roots were free from mildew, and appeared quite natural. 
As it was manifest that the mere physical examination of 
the canes furnished no clue to the cause of the disease, 
inasmuch as the ravages of the parasites found were quite 
inadequate to have caused the decay of the plants — and as 
it is a matter of doubt whether parasites, in any case of 
blight, are the primary cause of the disease, or are merely 
attendant on the disordered condition of the plant— a com- 
plete chemical examination was proceeded with, and gave the 
following results i — 
, Analysis of Canes and Cane Ash. 
Jproxymate Analysis of Cane. 100 parts of cane contain — 
< I. 
II. 
III. 
W ater 
78-66 
82-91 
81-81 
Crystalli'zable sugar 
10-13 
3-40 
2-42 
Glucose ... 
1-46 
2 f 20 
4"65 
Ash 
0*33 
033 
0-34 
Fibre, etc 
9-42 
1116 
10-78 
A curious spherical bacterium, which infects eatables, 
and gives 
them a red colour. Food placed under a glass shade along with 
monos prodiyiosa turned red in two or three days. When seen under 
a microscope with a magnifying power of 1,000 diameters, it appears 
to consist of round bodies filled with a red substance, and swimming 
in a red fluid. The colouring matter is insoluble in water, and nearly 
so in ether, but dissolves in alcohol with a blood-red colour. — Arch. 
PJi irm. (3) v. 19 — 24. 
