Observations on Hirneola Auricula-judae Berk. 125 
capable of germination if introduced into a suitable nutritive solu¬ 
tion. Spores kept on a dry plate loss their vitality more quickly, 
being more exposed to desiccation, and refuse to germinate a month 
after liberation. 
Germination of Spores in Liquids. 
There is a great difference between the results obtained by 
Brefeld and Moller on the one band and by Holtermann on the 
other. 
Moller (16) attributes the difference to lack of accuracy in 
Holtermann’s work. I must confess that without any previous 
knowledge of Holtermann’s paper, I published observations which 
Fig. 3. Basidiospores of Hirneola in decoction of Elder wood : a, healthy 
spore ; b — c, spores undergoing disintegration ; d, f—j, germinating spores ; e, 
germ tubes at both ends, x 600. 
were exactly similar and often expressed in phrases which look like 
a free translation from Holtermann. Such an agreement is of 
considerable interest and shews that Moller’s explanation of the diver¬ 
gent results is not tenable. It is worth while quoting Holtermann 
himself (10, pp. 41-42) who describes in concise and clear language 
the points of difference between the two sets of observations. 
“ Brefeld asserts that the spores germinate easily in water as 
well as in nutritive solutions by emitting germination threads which 
branch irregularly and frequently near their point of origin. At 
