These results show that the _aspergillus_ when in full growth, with plenty of air at its disposal, does not yield alcohol, and that if we submerge it, so as to prevent the oxygen of the air from readily coming into contact with its various parts, it decomposes sugar, after the manner of yeast, forming carbonic acid gas and alcohol. These effects were still more marked in the case of the flask C, the liquid in which, after having been shaken up, was not decanted to any great depth in our test flask, as had been the case with B. From June 21st, there was _mycelium_ on the surface of the liquid, studded with large bubbles of gas, which formed again after having been liberated by shaking. This last flask was examined on November 1st, 1873. Its aspect was unchanged; the liquid was covered with _mycelium_ loaded with sporanges and borne up by large old bubbles that had not disappeared. The following was the analysis of the liquid:— Alcohol 1·2 Glucose 84·0 Dextrine (?) 32·0 The liquid was very bright, and contained an amorphous granular deposit, formed by the wort after it had been boiled, at the time when we prepared our flasks. We crushed a small quantity of mycelium that had risen to the surface of the liquid, and obtained a field such as is represented in Fig. 20. Amongst the ordinary filaments of mycelium belonging to the plant, which are not represented in our engraving, and which were not more than 1/300 of a millimetre (nearly 1/7500 in.) in diameter, we perceived much larger ones, swollen and contorted in the most singular manner, and measuring as much as 1/50 of a millimetre across their broadest parts. There was also a multitude of the ordinary spores of _aspergillus_ mixed with others of larger size, and big, inflated cells, with irregular or spherical protuberances, full of granular matter. As there are all the stages between the normal spores of the plant and the big cells, and between these latter and the filaments, it must be admitted that the whole of this strange vegetation results from spores which change their structure under the influence of special conditions to which they are exposed.[62] Beyond all doubt these cells and irregularly shaped segments, in vegetating with difficulty, gave rise to the fermentation, which, although insignificant, was sufficiently marked to produce more than a gramme (15 grains) of alcohol. The oxygen of the air failing, or existing in insufficient quantity for the regular development of the filaments of mycelium belonging to the plant, and for the germination of its submerged spores, filaments and spores vegetated as the yeast of beer might have done if deprived of oxygen. [Illustration: Fig. 20.]