OR, MANUAL OS THE APIARY. 479 



In "foul brood" these germs feed on the larvae of the 

 bees, and thus convert life and vigor into death and decay. If 

 we can kill this miniature forest of the hive, and destroy the 

 spores, we shall extirpate the terrible plague. The spores 

 resist heat, are more tenacious of life, and more difficult to 

 kill than are the bacilli themselves. 



Some of the facts connected with " foul brood " would 

 lead us to think that the germs or spores of this fungus are 

 only conveyed in the honey. This supposition, alone, enables 

 us to understand one of the remedies which some of our ablest 

 apiarists hold to be entirely sure. 



RBMBBIBS. 



"Prevention is better than cure." In case foul brood, 

 black brood, or any suspected germ malady is in the neighbor- 

 hood or apiary, it will always be wise to feed medicated syrup. 

 Beta napthol is now preferred, as it is non-odorous, and not 

 offensive to the bees. Mr. Thos. W. Cowan uses this success- 

 fully as follows : One ounce of the powder is put into a half- 

 pint bottle ; just enough wood alcohol is added to dissolve it 

 fully, when the bottle is filled with water. This will medicate 

 280 pounds of syrup, made by mixing 140 pounds each of water 

 and granulated sugar. The solution and mixing can best be 

 performed by use of the extractor. Gentle turning soon dis- 

 solves the sugar, and thoroughly mixes the beta napthol. Thus 

 we use no heat. (See page 266.) 



TO CURE. 



No doubt Mr. Hilbert, of Germany, cured foul brood by 

 use of salicylic acid. Mr. Muth did the same, and rendered 

 the solution more easy by adding borax. That this extract of 

 the willow is a powerful germicide is well known. In the cure 

 of foul brood it has so often proved a partial or complete fail- 

 ure, that no one, except for experiment, can afford to use it 

 in this warfare at all. 



In 1874, Bontleroff, of Russia, suggested the use of car- 

 bolic acid or phenol as a cure of foul brood. Dr. Preusz also 

 thought very highly of it. There is no doubt that this is also 

 a very excellent bacillicide. Only the purest crystals of the 

 acid should be used. To use this to medicate the syrup — one- 



