Note 19 — Chapter II · On the Causes of the Diseases which affect Beer and Wort.

If we put a handful of germinating barley from a maltster’s cistern into a little water, and examine drops of the liquid, after it has become turbid, under a microscope, we shall be amazed at the wonderful number of strange microscopic organisms that swarm on the surface of the grains and on the sides of the cistern. There is no doubt that their presence is injurious to germination, inasmuch as they absorb much oxygen; moreover, they acidify the grain and cause it to deteriorate.