June 1, 1899. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



341 



Foul-Brood Germs— Spores and Bacilli. 



BY THOS. WM. COWAN. 



I HAVE read the correspondence respecting; the destruc- 

 tion of foul-brood germs contained in honey, by means 

 of boiling, and it appears to me that, when giving- ad- 

 vice with respect to such a destructive enemy as foul brood, 

 we cannot be too cautious, and had better err on the side of 

 safety than the reverse. 



From the promiscuous manner in which many talk 

 about microbes, bacilli, spores, or germs, it is quite evident 

 that they do not realize that a very great difference exists 

 between them ; and conditions that will be destructive of 

 the one may not have the slightest effect on the others. In 

 respect to the particular organism with which we have to 

 deal in foul brood; viz.. Bacillus alvei, we have to contend 

 with it in two different forms and stages of life, in one of 

 which the vitality of the organism is easily destroj'ed ; 

 while in the other the same organism, but under a different 

 form, is capable of retaining life, and germinating into the 

 condition of the previous stage, even after what would ap- 

 pear the most damaging influences, such as long lapse of 

 time, drying, heat, cold, and chemical re-agents. The 

 bacillus condition is the first stage of active life of this or- 

 ganism ; and it remains in this state, splitting and multi- 

 plying as long as it has nutrient material to live upon, and 

 other conditions are favorable. A bacillus is rod-shaped, 

 and when, in process of time, it has attained full growth, it 

 splits in two, each of these taking up an independent exis- 

 tence, and going thru the same process ; and as it has been 

 shown that as many as two generations can be reared within 

 an hour, and as the same rate of progression can be kept up 

 by each individual in suitable nutrient media it is not as- 

 tonishing that foul brood spreads rapidly. 



Now, while in this bacillus stage it is not difficult to kill 

 the organism (a temperature under 160 degrees Fahr. will 

 do it), and there are a number of chemical re-agents which 

 even in great dilution will destroy bacilli. It is, however, 

 very different in the subsequent stage of existence of this 

 microbe. When the bacilli, or rods, have multiplied to such 

 an extent as to exhaust all the nutriment upon which they 

 were feeding, or come in contact with surroundings inimical 

 to their active existence, the rods gradually turn into 

 spores. At a certain point of the rod a bright speck appears, 

 vi'hich gradually enlarges at the expense of the protoplasm 

 in the rod, until in its fully developt state it assumes an 

 oval shape. The sheath swells, and the bacillus looks much 

 thickened ; then the sheath breaks, and the spore becomes 

 free. 



Now it is when the rods have become spores that the 

 danger arises, because it is very difficult to make many un- 

 derstand the great difference between them and bacilli. 

 They are analogous to seeds of plants, altho they dift'er 

 from these in possessing greater vitality. Spores retain 

 the power to germinate into bacilli after the lapse of long 

 periods; and Dr. Klein, one of our great authorities, says, 

 ■' There is no reason to assume that these periods have any 

 limit." We have, at any rate, had ample evidence in our 

 own experience to show that spores have retained their 

 vitality for many years. These spores are not only capable 

 of germinating into bacilli after a long period of time, but 

 will endure heat, cold, drying and chemical re-agent.s — in- 

 fluences that would be destructive to bacilli themselves. 

 The temperature of boiling water does not destroy them un- 

 less considerably prolonged, altho a very much lower tem- 

 perature, as I have already stated, will kill bacilli. If we 

 had to do with bacilli only, in every case bringing up tlie 

 temperature to 212 degrees Fahr. would be amply sufficient ; 

 but with spores it is different. A few minutes boiling will 

 destroy some, because all the spores have not the same de- 

 gree of vitality ; and in this they resemble seeds of plants. 

 It is well known that some seeds will germinate much 

 sooner than others, and some will not germinate at all. 



Experiment has shown that, to destroy all the spores, 

 prolonged boiling is necessary, or they must be subjected 

 to a higher temperature, such as is obtained from steam un- 

 der pressure. Spores are unable to withstand steam, even 

 for a few minutes, at a temperature of 212 deg-rees Fahr. ; 

 but this could not be applied to honey, as the spores would 

 have to be separated before they could be acted upon by the 

 steam. 



I have had frequent demonstrations that many do not 

 really understand what boiling, from a scientist's point of 

 view, is, and that is why the results are frequently so dif- 

 ferent. They are content to think that the liquid is boiling 

 if they see it bubbling, whereas the bulk of it may be sev- 



eral degrees below the boiling-point if stirred and thoroly 

 mixt, and, of course, the larger the quantity the longer it 

 takes to raise the whole mass to the boiling temperature. 

 Experience has shown that it is not safe in every case to 

 depend upon 10 or IS minutes' boiling. Several boilings 

 would be better, but not so convenient to the ordinary bee- 

 keeper. The rationale of this is that, at the first boiling all 

 the developt bacilli are destroyed ; then suppose a nutrient 

 medium and other favorable conditions to exist in the 

 honey, the unaffected spores would germinate into bacilli, 

 and could be destroyed in the next boiling. A third and 

 even a fourth boiling might be necessary to destroy the 

 remainder. Failing this method of procedure it is safer, 

 with our present knowledge of the behavior of spores, and 

 taking into consideration the appliances at the command 

 of the average bee-keeper, to insist on prolonged boiling. — 

 Gleanings. April 18, 1899. 



Report of the Chicago Bee-Keepers' Convention. 



BY HERMAN F. MOORE. 

 [Continued from patje 2^1.1 

 Mr. H. S. Jones, of this (Cook) County, followed with 

 another paper on the same subject as that of Dr. Mason, viz: 



How I Handle My Bees In the Spring. 



To begin with, they get little handling by me in early 

 spring. No doubt it was intended that I should give my 

 experience in managing my bees in early spring. I must 

 start from the close of winter, then if you will follow me 

 thru until spring you will have my whole management. 



In the first place, I must describe the hive I use. I make 

 all my hives by hand, buying the lumber in boards, and 

 make it complete from bottom to cover. My hives are all 

 double-wall, without any air-space between, and painted on 

 the outside. You will no doubt ask why I make a hive 

 thus. Because the moisture from the bees is taken up by 

 the inside ^oard ; the outside board being painted, warms 

 the inside quickly ; the inside board being connected to the 

 outside by direct connection conveys the heat to the inside 

 much quicker. 



I winter my bees on the summer stands without any 

 protection, such as fence, etc., until along in January, 

 when I commence to shelter and start the spring managing. 

 On sunny days I open every hive, loosening the packing, 

 which is excelsior, so that the sun goes direct into the 

 super. I watch the sun very closely, in case it should 

 cloud up. 



The hives are at once packt and covers put on. This 

 is continued until along in April, according to the weather. 

 Now it is time to examine all colonies, and give them clean 

 houses. We all want clean houses in springtime, so do the 

 bees. I have several new hives on hand, dried and painted. 

 Starting at one end of a row I take out the frames and note 

 their condition, jot it down in my book, opposite the number 

 of the hive. At a glance I know just the condition of that 

 hive ; if short of stores I can give sealed or unsealed honey, 

 as the case maj' demand, and pack them good and warm. 



Why should not bees treated thus give good returns for 

 trouble taken ? I always give where needed new worker- 

 comb ; this will insure larger and stronger bees. Mr. York, 

 when at my apiary last year, noticed how large my bees 

 were. That is the way I got them. 



Sometimes I spread the brood, but not unless it will 

 stand it. I do not advise spreading except under very 

 favorable signs ; sometimes I stimulate by feeding honey. 

 Bee-keepers should have enough extra combs on hand for 

 times of need. 



As soon as possible after the middle of April I replace 

 all old queens with young ones. In this way there is no 

 loss of time, and the bees are not so liable to swarm. I 

 keep very close watch of all colonies to see that their little 

 wants are supplied promptlj-. 



The extra-strong colonies I divide early in May, giving 

 one-half a young queen, and nurse them along until bass- 

 wood bloom or sweet clover, when they are ready for busi- 



