Abstract
Clostridium botulinum type C was not detected in 54 samples of mud even after seeding them with a small number of spores of this organism. From 35 of these mud samples. 108 strains of bacteria were isolated which inhibited the growth of Cl. botulinum type C. strain FH 6513, but did not denature preformed toxin. These strains fell into three groups: Bacillus spp. (73%); Gram positive non‐sporing rods (11%); and Gram positive cocci (16%). Seven strains of Bacillus spp. were further investigated and found to produce from two to five peptide antibiotics.