5°° 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIII, No. 7 
then well mixed and poured into the sterile culture dish containing the 
remaining part of the kernel. These methods were used extensively by 
the senior author in his studies on fungi internal of Flax in 1904 3 and 
wheat in 1909 (28 ). In this manner a greater distribution of the 
mycelium or spores is possible and allows for accurate interpretation in 
instances where more than one fungus is being carried. Some of the 
kernels carried three parasitic fungi (PI. 5, 10, and 11); crushing was the 
most efficient means of determining all fungi present; on the plate con¬ 
taining uncrushed kernels the faster growing fungi inhibited the others. 
The plates were read at the end of 7 to 10 days for the presence of 
all bacterial and fungous growth. 
In most of the cultural plate work a dextrose-peptone agar (tap water 
1,000 cc., dextrose 10 gm., peptone 1 gm., agar 15 gm.) was of great va^ue 
in differentiating the several parastic fungi. Twenty cubic centimeters 
of medium were used in all cultural plates in which 10 kernels of corn 
were placed for germination. For cultural work in further differentiat¬ 
ing the various pathogenes potato starch, rice, and lima bean and sweet 
potato agar, were used as media. None of the media was standardized 
because the slight acidity resulting was favorable for differentiating in 
particular the various species of Fusarium. 
Owing to the texture of the ripened kernel, histological methods of 
investigation meet with difficulties. The germ end and the cob, which are 
most important for studying, are very horny in texture and difficult to 
section. Fixation is not so difficult, and in our work Camoy’s killer was 
found most satisfactory for thorough penetration. If the kernels to be 
fixed are first cut in half, better killing and infiltration of paraffin is 
secured. The kernels are best softened for the killer by soaking for 24 
hours in warm water, boiling till inhibition is complete, or steaming for 
10 minutes in the autoclave. Even this treatment does not give satis¬ 
factory softening of the cap, which is the most difficult to cut. After 
killing, the kernels are dehydrated by the usual method, and serial sec¬ 
tions are cut at 10 to 15/4 in thickness on the microtome. All material was 
differentiated with Flemming’s triple stain. Rotted kernels resulting 
from infection with Diplodia y Gibberella , and Fusarium moniliforme are 
easily prepared for histological studies by soaking eight hours in water. 
CEPHAbOSPORIUM 4 SACCHARI BUTbER 
A fungus unlike any previously reported in this country as far, as we 
could determine, was found very prevalent internal of seed corn. This 
fungus morphologically agrees with the description of Cephalosporium 
sacchari Butler, as reported by Butler and Kahn (8) on sugar cane in 
India. Butler (7) also found this fungus on sugar canes shipped from 
the United States to India. In view of these facts and because of the close 
3 Manns, Thomas F. fungi of flax sick soil and flax seed. 1904- Unpublished manuscript 
(Master's thesis) filed in Dept, of Botany, College of Agriculture, Fargo, N. Dak. 
4 In February, 1922, and again in April oi the same year. Dr. E. J. Butler, of the Imperial Bureau of 
Mycology, Kew, England, kindly sent the authors cultures of Cephalosporium sacchari isolated from sugar 
cane by Dr. Shaw, of Pusa, India. There was some question in Dr. Butler’s mind as to whether the first 
isolations were the same as the organism he originally described as Cephalosporium sacchari. In the cul¬ 
tures sent in April, 1922, Dr. Butler in examining them stated that "It seems to be pretty near the fungus 
as I know it." Both of these cultures in our hands proved to be a Fusarium, a fungus entirely different 
from the organism which we have tentatively referred to as Cephalosporium sacchari Butler. This Fusa¬ 
rium sent us by Dr. Butler when grown on nutrient dextrose agar gives a strong purple color. It is proba¬ 
ble that the organism we have tentatively referred to the species Cephalosporium sacchari is entirely differ¬ 
ent; if the cultures Dr. Butler sent us are identical with the organism he described as Cephalosporium 
sacchari , then his species should become Fusarium sacchari (Butler). Our Cephalosporium must receive 
then further consideration. (This footnote was added February, 1923,) 
