108 BEEKEEPING 



is caused by an organism known as bacil- 

 lus larvse, while the other form is caused 

 by bacillus pluton. Both of these organ- 

 isms are exceedingly resistant to ordinary 

 methods of disinfection. The first named 

 is much more resistant than the second as 

 it may be boiled in honey for thirty min- 

 utes and still live and will resist a five per 

 cent, solution of carbolic acid for months. 

 Material containing either bacillus may 

 be dried and kept for at least a year and 

 still be capable of causing the disease. 



Both diseases are spread from one col- 

 ony to another by means of infected honey. 

 The trouble is not air borne, but must be 

 carried from one hive to another or from 

 some point of infection other than a hive 

 to a healthy colony. Such points of in- 

 fection may be jars that contain a residue 

 of unused honey obtained from diseased 

 colonies; diseased combs taken from col- 

 onies affected with the trouble or hives 

 in which the bees have died or have be- 

 come so decimated by disease that robbers 



