Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-02-06

Certainly here is an army of keen and
faithful men directing their energies
toward one point, the advance of the
whole country along the line of agricul-
tural prosperity.
Returning now to thirdly and lastly,
we are assured that there are problems
In connection with the industry, which
is represented by the members of this
association, which demand solution. But
in the discussions of today, should pro-
perly take my place as learner. What
| say ought to be said rather by way of
suggestion than with the hope of in
struction.
A subject that comes up with great
clearness is, that of a supply to the coun-
try of sweets from the nectar of flowers.
The matter is one that does not concern
bee-keepers alone. Here in an industry
open to many, one that can never be con-
trolled by syndicate, or clique, or trust
an activity that puts into commerce tons
of "A delicious food, tons of valuable ma
terial, that without this industry would
otherwise be lost.
Chief among the conditions involved in
successful ee-keeping | take it are the
following:
l. Bees of good stock.
,. Bees with good health.
3. Good food for the bees-this food
abundant and continuous.
Other conditions there may be, but
with these three fulfilled the industry
would he prosperous. If prosperity is
not the experience of the members of this
association, or if prosperity is only oc-
casional and not the rule, the reason of
this lack should be looked into. Prob
lens for solution should be proposed and
worked out
Taking the three conditions suggested,
let us look at them and see what ques-
tions will naturally arise.
The first condition, bees of good stock.
will need but little discussion. Apiarists
have been sharp sighted and have care
fully looked into this matter; they have
usually secured the best possible stock.
1t is one of the strangest of things to
an outsider that the bee-raiser knows
anything about his bees so far as variety
and characteristics are concerned. That
he knows that some colonies are good
natured and easily managed, that others
are quarrelsome and troublesome, that
10,
that others are idle and protitless. is mar
velous to one who has not observed their
habits. Yet the apiarist seems to know
the character of each colony as the far
mer knows the breed and character of
his horses, sheep or cows. Good stock 1
suppose is in the possession of every
member of the Bee-keepers' association.
All could we haye variety of bees
with little larger tongue, that they
might gather the nectar from the red
clover and other deep necked corolla-
bearing plants
How about the second condition? Bees
with good health. Here comes in
trouble. Bees, like other animals, are
subject to disease. From lack of health,
they like man may be untitled for service
their work is left undone. Failure of
honey product is the result; now arise
problems what the trouble, what the
cause, what the cure. Each particular
disease may give rise to particular
problem, the problem how to meet, how
to cure the malady.
1t has been a wonder to me how per-
sistently bee-keepers have grappled with
these obscure questions, and how they
have less or more completely answered
them. How they have lost, and how
they have won in their dealing with that
destructive disease foul brood has been
a marvel.
Two problems have arisen in cOnnec-
ton with this trouble; one, what the
cause, the other, what the cure. The first
has been solved perhaps not by one man,
but by many working in union.
You will be able to correct the state
ments if not right, that the cause of foul
brood is the growth and development in
the brood of bees of fungus-lke plant
of microscopic size, plant that has been
pretty well studied, and has been named
Bacillus dlUei. The rapid growth of
this little mould bv division within
the larva produces, first, disease, then
death. Later the decay OF the larya
gives the foul odor.
The plant so small does at periods
produce still smaller roundish bodies,
spores, which corresponds to seeds in
larger plants. How the bacillus is
brought to the Larvae may be question;
one, however, that may be probably an
swered by suggesting that the
spores are brought in the honey
this infected honey being eaten by the
larvae the spores set up Il growth, pro-
ducing the bacillus, which in its growth
destroys the brood. Thus the first ques-
ton seems answered.