136 A Modern Bee-Farm 
There is a more simple way of disposing of foul brood 
spores than by boiling. Zhe prenciple of germination is at 
once their power, and, on the other hand, may be made the 
means of thetr own destruction. It is simply a question of 
manipulation by the bee-keeper at the right moment, for, 
strange as it may appear, the above results were attained 
without medication in any form. 
5.—The spores of foul brood need not be dreaded, as they may 
be destroyed by a most simple and efficacious process, which is that 
of causing them to germinate where such germs find no congenial 
soil; as also where a suitable antiseptic then immediately acts upon 
the successive germs so that they have no power of reproduction, or of 
maintaining their own existence. 
The spores are considered by scientists to be inde- 
structible ; they will not freeze, no heat less than actual 
fire can kill them, no germicide destroys them. This is 
the theory to which prominent teachers adhere; they 
will tell you of “cultures ” 
sealed tubes ; they. will explain how the germs cannot exist 
where certain medicinal agents are introduced, but do what 
you will, no germicide, they say, will destroy the spores. 
These writers, nevertheless, not only deceive themselves, 
but are like the blind leaders of the blind, and in following 
this theory teacher and student alike fall into the pit of 
destruction together. If these teachers would only realise 
that a cold culture will not readily cause the spores to 
made in various substances in 
germinate and thus meet their prepared destruction they 
would then see how far they are from giving material aid 
to suffering bee-keepers. 
It is an error to teach the indestructible nature of 
the foul brood spores, for in that they readily germinate 
in the living temperature of the populous hive, they are 
easily disposed of in detail, and therefore, with a little 
assistance, the fairly strong colony will have no more of 
