278 Brenchley .— Organic Plant Poisons. II. 
tested, except that in the presence of dilute solutions of orcinol barley plants 
appeared better than the controls before they were cut. This appearance 
was not corroborated by the dry weights. 
4. When the plants were killed by high concentrations of the phenols, 
moulds usually appeared very rapidly on the dead roots and on the solutions. 
Phenol itself, however, exerted an antiseptic action for a long time and no 
mould appeared until towards the end of the experiment, while the three 
cresols were still more antiseptic and did not allow of any mould formation 
at any time. This only held good with very strong concentrations, as 
moulds did appear in rather weaker strengths in which the roots were 
injured. Where no root injury occurred no moulds grew in any case. 
