934.\A Aitv tte aad uly, 1923 Research Bulletin No. 80 HE VOLATILE ACIDS PRODUCED BY STARTERS AND BY ORGAN- ISMS ISOLATED FROM THEM By B. W. HAMMER AND F. F. SHERWOOD AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION IOWA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS Cy H, Curis, Director DAIRY SECTION THE LIBRARY OF THE SEP 24 1930 UNIVEKSITY OF ILLINOIS, AMES, IOWA EXPERIMENT STATION OFFICERS AND STAFF Raymond A. Pearson, M.S.A., LL.D, President C. F. Curtiss, M.S.A., D.S., Director W. H. Stevenson, A.B., B.S.A., Vice-Director AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND FARM MANAGEMENT » Gee NourseseA, be eh onier L. Holmes, A.B., Ph.D., Asst. Chief OF Taylor oameasste . la, Benner, A.M. VAsst. John Hopkins, Jr., A.M., Asst. aaas AGRICULTURAL Job a Davidson wb Se Mola Arhi me niet W. A. Foster, B.S. in E., B.Arch., Asst. Chief Knute Bjorka, 'M.S., Asst. C. W. Crickman, B.S., Asst. W. H. Youngman, B.S., Asst. E. J. Working, M.S., Asst. Frank Robotka, B.S., Asst. ENGINEERING 1D. Wo Oeil. AES), teak ANID Agron., Asst. Chief Verne W. Stambaugh, B.S. in A.E., Re- search Fellow Bisa AGRONOMY W. H. Stevenson, A.B., B.S.A., H.C.D., Chief B.S., M.S.A., Chief in H. D. Hughes, Farm Crops Pe Ee Brown wb es Ace hes Ohreiein Soil Chemistry and Bacteriology L. C. Burnett, B.S.A., M.S., Chief in Cereal Breeding L. W. Forman, B.S.A., M.S., Chief in Field Experiments J. L. Robinson, B.S., M.S., Superintend- ent of Cooperative Experiments Eee OnTSOns ES. e ee hel ameAcsS us Chief in Soil Chemistry Paul Emerson, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Asst. Chief in Soil Bacteriology F.. S. Wilkins, B.S., M-:S., Asst. Chief in Farm Crops H. Benton, B.S., M.S., Soil Surveyor S. Gray, B.S., Soil Surveyor L. Orrben, B.S., Soil Surveyor M. O’Neal, Jr., B.S., Soil Surveyor T. Auten, B.S., Soil Analyst . G. Baker, B.S., Field Experiments P. E. Nordaker, B.S., Field Experiments J. L. Boatman, B.S., Field Experiments q4Poon ANIMAL HUSBANDRY H. H. Kildee, B.S.A., M.S., Chief J. M. Evvard, B.S.A., M.S., Chief in Swine and Beef Cattle Production Wray E. Hammond, B.S.A., M.S., Supt. of Experiments in Animal Husbandry CoC) Culbertsonys bios) in eAcwe ro mA ssts Chief in Animal Husbandry Q. W. Wallace, B.S., Assistant in Animal Husbandry A. R. Lamb, M.S., Chief in Nutrition A. B. Caine, M.S., Chief in Horse In- vestigations P. S. Shearer, P.S., Chief in Animal Breeding Mee D2 Helser) BiSvAy MES: = Chichewa Meat Investigation G. E. Weaver, M.S., Chief in Dairy Hus- bandry James Waddell, B.S., M.S., Asst. Chief Fordyce Ely, B.S., M.S., Asst. in Dairy Husbandry H. A. Bittenbender, B.S.A., Chief in Poultry Husbandry Re be Cochran 3B. S) eAsstan@hiet BACTERIOLOGY R. E. Buchanan, M.S., Ph.D., Chief, As- sociate in Dairy and Soil Bacteriology Buford H. Butcher, Graduate Asst. a ey BOTANY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY DE Pammels Bator MiSs) PhD Ohiek Charlotte M. King, Asst. Chief I. E. Melhus, B.S., Ph.D., Chief in Plant Pathology L. W. Durrell, B.S., M.S., Asst. Chief in Plant Pathology Jee Nee Martinge bs Sa emeASsts Atlin Bakke Bes eM See be aeeAcs bs Ray FEF. Crawford, B.S., Asst. O.. H: Elmer, B.S., Asst. Karl F. Petsch, B.S., Field Asst. BY. PB. Sipe, B.S., Fellow { CHEMISTRY p W. G. Gaessler, B.S., M.S., Acting Chief A. R. Lamb, B.S., M.S., Asst. Edith Wilson, Asst. J. A. Schullz, B.S., Asst. DAIRYING M. Mortenson, B.S.A., Chief B. W. Hammer, Ph.D., Chief in Dairy Bacteriology F. F. Sherwood, M.S., Asst. Chief Merle P. Baker, B.S., Asst. in Dairying ENTOMOLOGY Carl J. Drake, B.Sc., B.Ped., M.A., Ph.D., Chief in Entomology F, A. Fenton; B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Asst. Chief in Entomology Albert Hartzell, B.S., M.S., Asst. Wallace Park, B.S., Asst. Chief in Api- culture Wallace Colman, A.B., M.S., Asst. HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY ——_—________——_., Chief T. J. Maney, B.S., Chief in Pomology Harvey L. Lantz, B.S,, Asst. Chief H. H. Plagge, B.S., Asst. in Pomology A. T. Erwin, M.S., Chief in Truck Crops W. C. Calvert, B.S., Asst. in Truck Crops EH. ble oe “yap ISL ‘sold atuoidoid JO JuNOUIe [[BUIS sn[d dey | GEE'sG $6° GS ¥6°G& py re RS 16° ak VOR alae ea a ae "yop YZ aiuordord JO Junowe [[euIs sn{d oyo00V $L°6S 98° 3S GOSS 53 jj. GOT $l oe Cle 1 ats is a ae “qop 9ST ‘uosuB atuordoid FO aveiy snd doy | GPL ss 9LSg SL SG Pon ee 86° ie UGS 1c ae eee ee ae "Jap PZ atuoidoid jo jJunowe [[Vus sn[d doy 60° TS G6" 0S 60° LS " oo ONGG 19° ia) (Cl ead res a oe ey “q0p IST ‘UOSSOLIy atuodoid JO 9oVI} SHIA dYoV | GIT Ss OL’sg Go" SG Sta eee 16° Pe (ee Bg Oh eee ale "yep PZ atuoidoid JO 90BI} SnTd dI4eV | GEL'Ss Gees OL'SG |O0L/:N °20 0°0F 61° SLUR [Gee les tos Oo eee a ‘gop Is~L ‘uordwueyg esviaAV | d “ed | V “30d (MOTB I[4SIp | t1vaqs) IeqJIBys "? 012 18 xnevpndg JO sipnsey ee — "30 006 WOT | AIIploy | peyBqnour 1d}1B1S ‘Gsip PT. Jo oULLT, q[vs tuned Ul eq % AYPVV — ONINATdIX AHL NI SAOVLS LNANGATIGC LV SUMLUVIS NO GHUNIVILAO SHNTVA XOVTIONG GNV WOlMVa—-IA ATaViL aruotdo1d JO jyuNnOWeB j[[BlUs snd oI}WVY GG9°GG 09° SS TL 3S | I GECh t6° ye Oe ie aaa ce a “Jap dtuoidoid JO JUNOWB vsIBl snd d1JoV cgg "0S 09° 0G Lb OS FEC 04° Ae a Ne ete oie ea hie ae oat nad “qop suoTuodd JO vIVB1Z SNd IowV VL && G.Sy SL°Sg » OSG 8° RV ho Whoa aie aps aes eS “Jap duoldoid JO JUNO’ [[BVUIS snd odyooV | GEL" ly SL 1g SL Lg » GHP GL. sae GELS ST Mee weigh m ie agent Seer jap ddoldoid JO avV1} Ssn[d IJoV GPP SG EGGS 18° SS » G6 IG GOL 50 Solan ORs pe engin aa ees ee “qop stuotdoid JO JUuUNOULBe [[BUIS SHId IIoV F9'1G OF IG ZS 1g SOLES 18° A OGn Wicca a a “yap aiuoidoid JO JZUNOWB vsIBI SHid dIlWV Grog SP 0G GF OG » OST 89° SV eee Gt Sho bea ae “qup sfuordoid JO ovdB1} JUSS snjd ovyooy | GEga'gg L6 $4 0G°&S » G69 G6" se OS) a) ote ee ey eS jap duoiIdoid JO aoBd} JUSS suid dlqQoV GPS EG 69° S43 LV°S¢ » O° 6F 0S" 790 Gta Aline Sl is ha area ie cae “qep ajuordoid JO JunoUe [[BUIS SsNnjd YoY 69 1S 19°1S 09° TG » 0°96 GL" 5S Le. ils Gap ee ee “Jop atuoidoid JO vvB1} sni[d IV 61° 6G G6" EG SL°&S » O'FG cg* 9) a) Loe (ae eae Aa ae oe eas “Joep atuoIdo1d JO evB1I}Z SNId dIIoV 00° SS 60° 8S 16° 2G » 0°08 08° ee PLS i oe oes eee ae “Jap dstuoIdoid JO vdB1} SN[d odyoV 83 °SS 68°SS 86'S ee 8 ig: yi tay Ler) eee oe ea es ee a “yap duoidoid JO JUNOWB [[BVUIS SH[d VYoV | GIs'ss 18° SY 61° GG » 0°SS ts" oy OL eae Opn eee ek “Jap auolrdold JO @0B1} snid soy 60° &G 10° SG 16° 6S a Se 63" Sr 2OLS Ula eben ee (yl eae “yep auordoid JO ZUNnOWB [[BVUIS snd dIyWV L1G 08" TS 89° 1g » GIG SL 9907) Le Re ea ee eae ‘qep auordoid JO oveB1} Snid dIQo0V IL’ && SIsS 10°&& » O° 0S 68° PreK ol bam Regence: SF Gaines ge 9a age “qop auoldoid JO JuUNnOWe [[BVUIS Sid syoV | CLG" IG 69° 1G 6G° 1G » OLS 9L° Tied Sivek ti deo. gy oe eos Sf “jop stuoldoid JO JuNOWeB [[BVUUS snd VZV | Gross PL'SG G6°GY » GOP 98° iO) oem ec eR ge aa “yap dtuoldoid JO JuNOUB vsIB[ Sn[d soy §& "0G SFOS 8L'0G 9 OLE 19° So V Lae it ae A ghee gee ae “yop auoidoid JO 9oBViz snid oyQo0V GOSS c0°SS Z0°SS » 0° SP C6" $y OG et ace eee ee eee “Jar suoldoid JO ZuNOWB [[RUIS SHA dV C§° GG 98° GS FS °CG » 0°66 88° Artal) 1 Weel aaa at wae ra, ae “jap vluordoid JO JuNnOWeB [[BUUS snid IyQwVy 16°ZS 86° ZS F3°GG as GG Ss" Ae V4 aes oS apes oe SS “Jap oluoidoid JO JuNnOoUB [[BVUIS sni[d dYoV CQ9°SG 99° ZG GG"72G 7 3)8) (ye tS" SLO Sy poe Nite ae "157 esBloA¥ | “Jed | V “Jed (TO! BTLIASIp ULB9IS) 10J1BIS 0) aie xnepnd FO s[nNsay — ——- -— 4) ie aia AyIpIyW | pezeqnour I9}IB4S , Sty Loo duh Ty, q[Bs UInIIVq Ul Bg % AVIPWVy ONINAdIY FO SHOVLS LNAYHAAIG LY SUYALAVLIS NO GHUNIVIAO SANTIVA XAVTIONG GNV WOINVE—IIA ATAV 10 TABLE VIII—BARIUM AND DUCLAUX VALUES OBTAINED ON FIRST AND SECOND LITER OF DISTILLATE FROM STARTER First liter distillate % Ba in barium salt Starter — — Results of Duclaux Det. A. | Det. B. | Average DI0d a stadethes sseee 51.60 51.64 51.62 Acetic plus small amount propionie 20s dette see en 53.47 53.62 53.545 Acetie plus slight trace propionic Ste WP S6 (ei rsp tere 53.20 53.27 53.230 Acetie plus slight trace propionic Second liter distillate % Ba in barium salt Starter —— Results of Duclaux Det. A. | Det. B. | Average Dic lst dete =a 51.62 51.56 51.59 Acetic plus small amount. propionic PLO sale rt 53.26 Dowell 53.285 Acetic plus trace propionic SO OCG ae ee Hoek 53.32 53.265 Acetie plus trace propionic — the results simply tend to confirm those secured where two de- terminations were used; in one instance the third determination gave a slightly lower barium value than the second but the dif- ference is too small to be of any significance while in the other instance there was a rise in the barium value from the first to the third determination. The Duclaux results reported in table VII again confirm the conclusions drawn from the barium values. The data presented in tables VI and VII indicate that at a given acidity starters may show quite different barium values. The differences along this line seem to be as great in different lots of starter inoculated from the same culture as in lots of starter inoculated with different cultures. It seems reasonable to conclude that the change from the volatile acids giving a low barium value (acetic with considerable propionic) to those giv- ing a somewhat higher barium value (acetic with only a small amount of propionic) does not always occur at exactly the same total acidity of the starter. With the series of three determinations that were made on one lot of starter 104 and reported in table VII barium and Duclaux values were also secured on a second liter of distillate from each determination. These are given in table VIII to- evether with the barium and Duclaux values for the first liter of distillate from each determination for comparison. The data 11 show a close agreement between the values for the first and sec- ond liters in all three comparisons and suggest that the first liter of distillate is representative of the volatile acids produced in a starter and can be used for studies on the kinds of volatile acids formed. The variation in the volatile acids produced at different periods during the ripening of a starter indicates that the dif- ferent groups of organisms may not produce the same volatile acids, and suggests a consideration of the volatile acids formed by S. lactis and by the associated organisms in pure cultures. Material for the determination of the kinds of volatile acids produced by SN. lactis was secured by combining distillates ob- tained from cultures of S. lactis that were being checked to be certain of their low volatile acid production. While a distillate from a culture of one organism might have been preferable to the material used, the work involved in securing such a distillate with the low volatile acid producing S. lactis cultures seemed to justify the other procedure. The results secured on the S. lactis cultures are given in table 1X; from these it will be seen that the pure cultures of S. lactis gave low barium values, comparable to those secured on a starter rather early in the ripening period. These barium values indicate that the volatile acid produced by S. lactis is not largely acetic? as has been suggested in some in- stances but is acetic with some higher acid presumably propionic included with it in considerable amounts. The Duclaux values confirm the conclusions drawn from the barium values. TABLE IX—BARIUM AND DUCLAUX VALUES OBTAINED ON DISTILLATES FROM CULTURES OF 8S. LACTIS Number of| Average | % Ba in barium salt distillates | volatile mixed acidities* —.: Results of Duclaux to supply |>f cultures : acids S. lactis. | Det. A} Det. B] Av. 2 8.2 51.34 Bila 51.555| Acetic plus small amount of propionic 7 Oe 50.48 50.59 50.535| Acetic plus large amount of propionic 4 10.7 51.82 51.74 51.78 | Acetic plus small amount of propionic 2 it 0 50.23 50.49 50.36 | Acetic plus large amount of propionic 2, he 50. 64 50.93 50.785| Acetie plus large amount of propionie 4 7.5 50.34 50.49 50.415} Acetic plus large amount of propionic 4 8.1 51.86 | 51.90 51.88 | Acetic plus small amount of propioni¢c 6 (4 50.78 50.71 50.745) Acetic plus large amount of propionic 4 6.0 50.54 50.31 50.425] Acetic plus large amount of propionic 4 HAG 49.63 49.86 49.745| Acetic plus large amount. of propionic 4 Choiet 51.46 51.28 51.37 | Acetic plus small amount of propionic 9 8.7 50.12 50.24 50.18 | Acetic plus large amount of propionic 6 7-1 49.98 50.311 50.145] Acetie plus large amount. of propionie *ee, of N:/10 alkali required to neutralize the first liter distillate obtained by distilling 250 grams with steam after adding 15 ee. of approx. N/1 He2SOu. 2. See Evans, Alice C. A Study of the Streptococci Concerned in Cheese Ripen- ing. Jr. Agr. Res. 13, Ap. 22, 1918, p. 235, for review of literature and original data. iL In determining the volatile acids produced by the organisms associated with S. lactis in starters, various kinds of material were employed. In two instances distillates secured from milk cultures of S. paracitrovorus were used, while in the remainder distillates from cultures of S. citrovorus or 8S. paracitrovorus erown in milk to which citric acid had been added were em- ployed. The addition of the citric acid increased very mate- rially the amount of volatile acid produced and made it easier to secure sufficient volatile acid for the preparation of the barium salts in satisfactory amounts. The results secured with the associated organisms are presented in table X. The barium values with these organisms were higher than the values secured with S. /actis and approximated the values obtained with starters that had been allowed to develop considerable amounts of acid. It is accordingly evident that the associated organisms produce a volatile acidity that is largely acetic and thus quite different than the volatile acidity produced by SN. lactis. The type of vola- tile acids produced by the associated organisms accounts for the type of volatile acids produced in starters that have de- veloped considerable total acidity, which cannot be accounted for by the action of S. lactis, and thus affords further proof of the importance of the associated organisms in a starter. In order to compare the volatile acids present in old cream soured naturally with those present in starter, the volatile acids were distilled from old cream with steam and the barium and Duclaux values determined. The old off-flavored: cream was secured by holding cream at room temperature for varying lengths of time. The results obtained, which are given in table XI, show that the barium values were very different than the values secured on starters, as would be expected from the odor of the lots of old cream. The barium values are low indicating that acids higher than acetic must be present in considerable amounts. Some of the barium values are so low that if a cer- tain amount of acetic acid was present as was probably the case, they could not be accounted for by the remainder of the volatile acid being propionie so that some higher acid probably butyric would necessarily be present. The Duclaux values on the dis- tillates from old cream confirm the conclusions drawn from the barium values. 13 oIuoIdoid qunowe [[BuIs snd oIyIV GES" Ty 88° LG $38°Ig UGS bT: LO ee JX Ul SABUP 9 LL “U OL dWAJN “13 Snyid siuordoid JUNOWB vsIBT sHid dIljoV 16° 8F 00° 6F +6°8P7 » 00°9F 08: oleae ‘dad Ul SABVpP ZL “UY 6 dIAJUG “17 snjd vruorTdord JUNOWB osIBl SHIA I 4oV G-9°6P 69° 6F 99° 6F aa OGY [She ae liens ac Se 2 | ee ee ‘dod Ul SABP 9 *°*LL UU 8 oWAUY “13 Snid vidordoid JUnOULB [[VUUS Snid VyvV $1, 1G 99° LG Gs 1g os GI OGua Al: hacen eaeene ‘00q UI SABUP 9 ->.L UY WD dIAIUG “1} SH{G dIUOIdOId JUNOUIB dsIB, SHA diJIWV L628 fale ac: eae 16 °S8P ee NNER alee rari sO (sop ae AON Ul oD OL arlae cd 9 ddAJUG “12 SnEd viuordoid JuNOUTe [[VUS snjid dloV G8 1S 68° TS GLTS » OSES (om Miiriee ee a AUG S At Ol fame ee oT G dMAING “49 Snid oviuoIdoId JUNOWB vsIBl SH[d IyQoV LG° 6F OL’ 6F TP 6F a9 UL OP Ble a eae nee ee AMHOYES Odd “Voy to Sap, eS F dAUq “13 Ssnf[d stuoIdoOrid JUNOWIB VsIBI SHIA JyQoVy 91° 8P $1°S8P 61° 8F FIOM US Sy oy ipa ae aan ANP ul shkvep F {L331 ¢ dtAjuq “4}2 Snid o1uoIdoid JuNnOUTB [[BUS snd IYoWV G8‘ 1S IS‘ IG S8° 1S C9 Sid ere ht ee ANLAYED Lode SSO Soh Op. ORE) S dWdAIUY “13 Suid dIUOIdOId JUNOUB 9sIBl SHjd dlIeV GGO° 6F 16°89 TL 6P “30 00) 9S aan as a eee lk ae Aj f] UM SAB DTees ett L “AV a “ded | V “49d (W017 BI] I4SIp UIBd}S) UBIO ON xnevjondg JO si[Nsay ‘00 006 WOT | AQVIPHYW UOI}.Vqnouy WBIID “YsIp “72 T Jo [VS UNIIeqd Ul BY % AYIpDy ATTVUOLVN GHXNOS WVHNO CIO WOdd SALVTITILSIG NO CHNIVIGO SANIVA XOVTIONG GNV WOAIYVE—-IX ATA oluordord Jo olmordoid =o olao1doid Jo oluoItdord JO JyUuNOUTB d1uotdoid jo otmoidoid JO qyunouUule oluoidoid Jo yunowe otuoIdoid JO JuNOUIB ouordoid Fo 9081} aR} a0ely [euts 9081) [veuts [veuts [reuts eaienal aturdordl JO JunowR |[[RUIS oluoidorid JO JUuNOUIB [Bus sn[a snid snj{d snid. snid snj{d snyjd snid snyjd snjid snjd JIJWV JWT JQ V dW V Jd V JIJWV J1}0V JIV JJ V JTW V JI V xnepand Jo sq[nsay GOS &S Sr SG 69° &G 0°9F 6S°S¢ GS"SG &9°&S 0° EP $9°SG 89°S4 89°sS 0° LP G80°&S IT’ &S$ 90°SS 0°0S GOS “EG SP és 69°ES G19 G6G°&S G&G 6& && 6°89 97'S GG°EG OFS 0°8S GSS" &S 08 °§S cE sg L°Gh 89° EG 6° &9°§S G18 FG GG 8S°GG 0S°6S “AB L9G G89°G §4°¢S ¥9°GS “AB 0°ES “AV d “39d | V “39d Soinind JO ars eos xSOIFIPl0B aA BlOA q[Vs uInIIeq Ul eg % SYMLUV.LS NI SILOVT “XI 9198} 998, ie es ae Sa a aa a plow ILIJIO SHIG ALMU UL SNIOAOA}I0 Ro ace a ae ee plow OLM1d sn[d [luk Ul SNIOAOIIID gh ase ei i ag plHv oi143t0 Ssnjd ALlUt UL SNIOAO1TII0 ROSE VET Go eae plow oly snjd ANU UL SntoAOTq10 Os plow o113r9 sn~d ypu ur cro con ast die egriae Peak are mg phe dl13yr snid YUL UL SNAOAOIQIOBIRd * er a eas plow 11710 Sn[d ATIC Ul SNIOAOIIDRIRA a ea aie eee ploBv O11410 Sn[d YM UE SNIOAOIIIBIRG Se a. er plow ol1z10 Ssnid YIU Ul SNIOAOIQIOBIRd * Fares SHIOAOIJINBIVA “G YYIM “JOUL YIU WOT soz BI[ISIp G Seta SHLIOAOIJNBIBA “G YIM “SOUL YIU WOT, SoIVI[MSIp ¢ [BlleyVIT JO aaInog ‘S HALIM GHLVIOOSSV SWSINVOYO FO SHYNALTAO WOUd SALVITILSIC NO GUNIV.LEO SAN TVA XONVIONG GNV WOINVA—X ATAVT 14 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS The results presented show that in a highly ripened starter the volatile acid is largely acetic, with undoubtedly a small amount of propionic acid. These volatile acids must be assumed to be of considerable importance from the standpoint of de- termining the odor and flavor of a starter, altho by no means the only factor. It is evident that the kind of volatile acid pres- ent is not the same thruout the ripening period of a starter, the acetic acid being less prominent early in the ripening and more prominent later, and the propionic acid accordingly more prominent early and less prominent later. The acetic acid pres- ent in a starter seems to result mainly from the action of the associated organisms, while the propionic acid comes largely from the action of the S. lactis group. The time of the appear- ance of these different types of volatile acids suggests that dur- ing the early part of the ripening of a starter the S. lactis or- anisms are the main ones developing and that later on the associated organisms become active. This same idea is suggested by the results previously reported by the Iowa station® showing that the percentage of the total acidity made up of volatile acid is greater late in the ripening period than early. The data secured on the distillates from old sour cream show that the kinds of volatile acids produced during prolonged natural souring are quite different than those produced in the ripening of starters, being higher in the series of fatty acids. These acids are undoubtedly partly responsible for the very un- desirable flavors and odors in old cream and in the butter made from it. The results obtained in connection with the kinds of volatile acids produced in cream held for a long period suggest that certain organisms growing in such material may be of quite different types than those ordinarily considered to be the most prominent in causing changes in milk or cream. 3. Hammer, B. W., and Cordes, W. A. The Relation Between the Volatile and Total Acidity in Starters and in Cultures of S. lacticus. Ja. Agr. Expt. Sta. Res. Bul.. 66, July, 1921. 15 CONCLUSIONS 1. Starters ripened for considerable periods contained vola- tile acids made up largely of acetic with small amounts of pro- plonie. 2. At low total (and accordingly volatile) acidities propt- onic acid made up a greater percentage of the volatile acidity than it did at higher total acidities. 3. The change from a volatile acidity in which propionic acid was present in comparatively large amounts to one where it made up only a small percentage of the total volatile acid did not occur at any definite total acidity of a starter. 4. Streptococcus lactis produced a volatile acidity made up of acetic with considerable amounts of propionic acid. 5. The associated organisms—S. citrovorus and S. para- citrovorus—produced a volatile acidity that was very largely acetic. 6. The volatile acids secured from old cream were quite dif- ferent than those secured from starters in that acid higher than acetic was present in large amounts. In some instances butyric acid was apparently included. 30112 11461