55 



5. That the two bacilli are antagonistic to each other, and are constantly 

 struggling for supremacy, sometimes the one and sometimes the other 

 getting the upper hand. 



6. That other bacteria are sometimes associated with Streftococcus apis 

 which kill its cocci, so that bees are able to remove the dead larvae, and in 

 some instances during a good honey-flow the disease may be held in check 

 or the colony become for a time cured. 



7. That the disease in which either or both bacilli are present is equally 

 infectious. 



The Power of Resistance in Spores of Bacillus Larv^. 

 In Bulletin No. 75, Part IV, just issued by the United States Department 

 of xigriculture, the author, G. F. White, Ph.D., expert in bacteriology, says, 

 " The spores of this bacillus (Bacillus larvu) are very resistant to heat and 

 other disinfectants. They resist the boiling-temperature of water for fifteen 

 minutes. In 5 per cent, of carbolic acid they were not killed in two months' 

 time. Likewise it has been demonstrated that the spores of Bacillus larvae, 

 when taken from the scales of American foul-brood, resist the action of 

 mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate), 1 : 1,000 aqueous solution, for two 

 months. Having such facts before us, we can better judge he methods for 

 treatment." 



OTHER DISEASES. 

 The following description of symptoms of other diseases than foul-brood, 

 and which so far have given but \-ery little trouble in New Zealand, is taken 

 partly from " The Bacteria of the Apiarv," published in 1906 by the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, and partly from " The Brood 

 Diseases of Bees," by Dr. E. F. Phillips, of the same Department : — 



PlOKLE-BROOD. 



There is a diseased condition of the brood called by beekeepers "pickle- 

 brood," but practically nothing is known of its cause. It is charac- 

 terized by a swollen watery appearance of the larvte, usually accompanied 

 by black colour of the head. The larv* usually lie on their backs in the 

 cell, and the head points upward. The eolour gradually changes from light 

 yellow to brown after the larva dies. There is no ropiness, and the only 

 odour is that of sour decaying matter, not at all like that of American foul- 

 brood. In case the larvae are capped over, the cappings do not become 

 dark, as in the case of the contagious diseases, but they may be punctured. 

 So far no cause can be given for this disease, and whether or not it is con- 

 tagious is a disputed point. Usually no treatment is necessary beyond 

 feeding during a dearth of honey, but in very rare eases when the majority 

 of larvae in a comb are dead from this cause the frame should be removed 

 and a clean comb put in its place, to make it unnecessary for the bees to clean 

 out so much dead brood. 



Chilled, Overheated, an"d Starved Brood. 



Many difierent external factors may cause brood to die. Such dead 

 brood is frequently mistaken, by persons unfamiliar with the brood diseases, 



