522 Fischer . — The Biology of A r miliaria mticida, Schrader. 
January 5 germinated in a similar period, but in this case it was obviously 
difficult to make certain of germination at once on occurrence. Sown 
on the same solution with gelatine added on January 6 they failed alto- 
gether to germinate. But on the next day spores were sown on a jelly of 
meat and malt extract mixed with a decoction of horse-dung and acidulated 
with oxalic acid, and these germinated in ten days. Attempts made with 
spores from the same source at later dates were entirely unsuccessful. 
This indicates no great endurance of germinative power, and as the 
fruit bodies ripen from August to December, infection must take place 
In autumn and the first half of winter ; in other words, at a time when there 
is least sap in the host tree. 
The spores formed on the carpophores grown in pure culture (as 
described later on) were slightly smaller than those found in nature, having 
an average diameter of 12 to 13 ju, as against 14 \x (Fig. 5). They germi- 
nated readily in water and in meat and malt jelly within twenty-four hours 
when fresh. These spores kept in a dry Petri-dish failed to germinate 
when four months old. 
From the jelly cultures single germinated spores and pieces of mycelium 
were taken to start the permanent cultures on bread. 
On the surface of the dense felted mycelium, both on bread and on 
jelly, beads of a clear brown fluid appeared. 
On bread and on wood the fungus first showed itself in the shape 
of erect white flocculent hyphae about J inch long. These soon became 
denser and formed a thick layer of perfectly white felted mycelium. 
Pieces of mycelium grown on bread were found to be capable of further 
development on a jelly made with 12 per cent, gelatine and pure water, the 
jelly being liquefied in a few days. Also, in a solution of 20 per cent, 
glucose, both fluid and in a jelly with 12 per cent, gelatine, similarly 
inoculated mycelium grew on actively, liquefying the jelly as before. 
Sporophores. 
We will now follow the development of the fruit bodies In the cultures. 
On November 28 a culture was started in an Erlenmeyer flask on 
beer- wort jelly by Munch’s method of direct sowing described above. By 
the 30th of the same month it was evident to the naked eye that germi- 
nation had taken place, and by December 24 the whole surface of the jelly 
was covered with a film of white mycelium. On that date a very small 
piece of mycelium was extracted and placed in another flask on bread 
moistened with a decoction of horse-dung acidulated with gallic acid. In 
two days it became obvious that the inoculation had been successful, and in 
a few days the white mycelium completely concealed the bread. On 
January 2 7 the first signs of fructification appeared, and eight days later 
the first sporophore attained maturity. Thus from germination of the 
