The Development and Nutrition of Yeast

The problems connected with development and nutrition are numerous and are of paramount importance if we are to attain an understanding as to the mechanism of growth and maintenance of life.In the vegetable, no less than the animal world, this is true.The complexities involved in the study of the higher forms of plant growth are manifold and in a sense these complexities increase in the lower orders when for instance the size of a single yeast cell is taken into consideration.Daily experience teaches that much happens inside each of these small cells, and when one considers that building up and breaking down processes seem to take placo simultaneously the inherent difficulties are easily seen.Thus it is only possible, in an investigation such as this, to touch the fringe of the subject, but it is hoped that the paper may contain something that will prove suggestive to other workers.Further, when it is considered how great is the number of known species of the organism, each having its own peculiarities and distinctive behaviour under set conditions, the magnitude of the work is enormous.Of course, much has been done already, and there is a good deal of information available concerning a few yeasts.The very word " yeast" is onough to bring before our eyes the names of men-very famous men-who, by applying their great genius to the study of yeast, have dono so much for mankind in the many branches of natural science, and the result of whose work has meant so much to all industries involving fermentation.It is indeed difficult to name any other sphere where an historical sketch would arouse so much fascination in its compilation, or would provide reading so dramatic in its disclosures.Wo refrain from delving becauso such would be out side the purport of this paper, and further, the subject is one for more experienced pens than ours.The progress made by the pioneers and their immediate followers was marvellously rapid, but the beginning of