278 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. 45, No. 6 



Swann {28) has observed that there is a variation in the germination 

 time of anthrax spores, depending on the age and condition of the 

 spores. 



Morrison and Rettger {24, j). 339) recently stated — 



Because of the marked variability of germination, depending upon the stimuli 

 supplied in the environment, the deduction is made that bacterial spores in the 

 process of germination are vitally active bodies having requirements for meta- 

 bolic function which are the same as or more exacting and specific than those of 

 the vegetative cells. 



Experimental evidence is presented to show that the dormancy of aerobic 

 bacterial spores is largely, if not entirely, determined by conditions in the environ- 

 ment of the spores, and that these factors must be taken into consideration, 

 perhaps specifically for each species, before so-called "inherent " or " normal " dor- 

 mancy of bacterial spores can be established. 



This phase of the work with Bacillus larvae is being repeated with 

 the organism obtained from a single source in an effort to determine 

 the importance of this variable factor of dormancy. 



SPORES OF BACILLUS LARVAE IN COMMERCIAL HONEY 



A few instances have been reported in the bee journals, such as that 

 by Merrill {22), in which American foulbrood has developed as a 

 result of bees having access to cans of infected honey that have been 

 carelessly thrown out. Without doubt in some cases honey has been 

 allowed to get on the market from infected colonies through negligence 

 of the beekeepers and without being diluted by mixing or blending 

 with honey from disease-free apiaries. On the other hand, Fracker 

 {10, p. 379-380) has shown, by a study of disease-inspection statistics 

 for Wisconsin: 



1. In Wisconsin the introduction of this disease into the State and into many 

 individual localities is definitely known to have been in specific importations of 

 bees and equipment. 



2. Cases of infection in which the source appears to be infected honey in the 

 •channels of trade are comparatively rare. 



3. Even near such a large center as Milwaukee the infection percentage is 

 greatest m locahties of active movement, such as greenhouse areas, and is relatively 

 low within the city itself. 



4. Towns and cities of from 3,000 to 40,000 which have been natural markets 

 for infected honey from near-by counties, have remained for years free from 

 disease either until the present or until infected bees and equipment were 

 introduced. 



5. No new centers of infection are known to have been started since the policv 

 ot limiting movement of bees and equipment was begun in 1919 



6 These observations appear to be confirmed by conditions in the South, in 



T^12l f^! t f""^ *^® "S-T-i °S ^'=*'^^ *^'slit of the bee tends to continue 

 through the peak of honey distribution. 



Furthermore, F. L. Thomas, State entomologist of Texas, in an 

 unpublished manuscript states: 



K J^^i;!^-""^*" ^V^ *^? estimates with reference to the quantity of honey that is 



brought into Texas ma year is 19 carloads. Most of this honey is produced in 



California, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming * * * P™aucea in 



If 19 carloads of foulbrood-infected honey are distributed annually in this 



time tnipp^'?h-'!?'°°^^^"'-I° '"t^^"'^ ^^^* °"^ inspectors would have 1 hard 

 time to keep this disease withm bounds. In fact, I would exDect to find thni thP 



Srat^ATrl'e sLfe^tthJj°"°^ TT"" '"^ thefrttemp'tfto^er^adl^^^^^^^^ 

 wS ■?-!," t^ share of the honey which is imported is sold in west and north- 



west Texas where practically no bees are kept. The amount which is dbtributed 

 in the beekeeping territory of the State is evidently less dangerous than is com- 

 mon^^y supposed. The following facts, I think, will prove tStatement 



hafS ca^FeT?ntf'?or^''" I'- ^^^°f -t? ^"^^^^ ^1, 1926, the insTect on work 

 has been carried into 100 counties. Fifty-six counties were found to be free 



