THE CHARACTERS OF SOME COLIFORM BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM GRASS AND GRASS SILAGE

The species of coliform bacterium predominant on fresh grass was found to be a capsulated type growing well at 30^o C. but unable to grow at 37^o C. For this reason it will not be detected by the presumptive test in bile salt-lactose broth at 37^o C. The name Bacillus (Aerebacter) aerogenes graminis is proposed for this species.
It is possible that conforms of the above type contribute to a small extent to the initial fermentation of the silage. Those coliforms giving the presumptive test at 37^o C. were found in such small numbers in the silage investigated that their influence was concluded to be negligible.
This work forms part of some research carried out under grant from the Research Council of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., to whom the authors wish to make due acknowledgement. Valuable help was also received from Dr S. J. Watson, who supplied samples of grass and silage-