403 
Physiology of the Genus Eidomia . 
equivalent to 2-96 c.c. N/i NaOH per litre: final 2-24 c.c.). The colour of 
the liquid (E. viridescens ) changed from yellow to greenish yellow. Odour 
of coco-nut oil present. 
E. viridescens produces moderate growth in galactose and little growth 
in mannose and fructose, when kept for eight weeks at 20° C. ; in each case 
the odour of coco-nut oil is obtained on heating the solution. 
From these results, it is clear that the two fungi react differently in 
solutions of sugars: in E. viridescens growth is accompanied by coloration 
of the liquid and emission of odour; in E. catemdata these characteristics 
are absent. 
Cultures of E. viridescens in maltose, glucose, lactose, and galactose 
were tested for actual utilization of sugar by titrating with Fehling’s solu¬ 
tion after thirty days’ growth. The sugar in a control flask, kept under the 
same conditions, was estimated at the same time. Definite evidence that 
sugar had been utilized was obtained in each case : for example, with glucose 
control flasks contained 4 per cent, of sugar, the inoculated 3*5 per cent., 
lactose control 3-75 per cent., inoculated 3-5 per cent. 
Solutions of pure sugar made up in conductivity water should prove 
neutral to litmus. The acidity of the solutions used in these experiments 
is attributed partly to the use of ordinary distilled water and partly to 
impurities present in the sugars themselves. Reduction of acidity where it 
occurs is probably not connected in any way with the fungal action on 
sugar, but due to reaction to the impurities present or to actual utilization 
of acid by the fungus. 
The series of sugars containing agar comprised molar, and fifth, tenth, 
fiftieth, and hundredth molar solutions of lactose, glucose, and sucrose, using 
distilled water. The layer of medium in the plate when poured was 
approximately 3 mm. thick. Two series of plates were prepared and 
inoculated with E. catemdata and E. viridescens respectively, and kept at 
20*5° C. Control plates containing agar only were also prepared. Observa¬ 
tions were made on the rate of growth in terms of the diameter of the 
colony, degree of sporulation, colour of the spore masses, and emission 
of odour. 
The actual growth measurements made at twenty-four hours’ intervals 
are given on p. 404. 
The results do not differ in general from those obtained in liquid 
cultures. The odour of coco-nut oil was again evident in cultures of E. viri- 
descens , whereas E. catemdata produced no smell.' The growth-rate of 
E. viridescens is considerably greater than that of E. catemdata in molar 
solutions of all strengths, and the total growth at the end of four days is 
about three times as great. Since E. catemdata exhibits relatively slow 
growth as compared with E. viridescens under all temperature conditions, 
and even when cultures of these fungi are grown at their respective tempera- 
