NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 193 



during the spring months is apt to lower the temperature, and 

 thus compel the bees to cluster together in order to raise the 

 necessary warmth. As at this season they are by no means so 

 active as in the heat of summer, it sometimes happens that the 

 larvae perish before the warm weather sets in. This is termed 

 chilled brood ; for although the bees very often succeed in clearing 

 out the dead larvae, yet the spores having been deposited at the 

 bottom of the cells get scattered through the hive, cause decom- 

 position to set in, and the foundation for future unhealthy colonies 

 is thereby laid. 



Third : From infection. — I find this by far the most frequent 

 cause of disease, as an infected hive soon becomes an easy prey to 

 robber bees. They in turn, while stealing the honey, take with 

 them the seeds of infection, and thus innoculate their own hives. 

 Many beekeepers say that foul brood is not infectious, because 

 sometimes a natural swarm from an infected hive does not carry 

 it with them when put into a clean hive ; but it is well known 

 that bees, when leaving, carry two or three days' consumption 

 with them, and when a swarm is housed in a clean empty hive, by 

 far the greatest amount of the honey they bring with them goes 

 to the production of wax for the new combs. By the time the 

 queen lays eggs and the larvae require to be fed, there can be no 

 doubt that they are supplied by fresh stores brought from the 

 fields. But as a proof of infection, it may be stated that foul 

 brood has been known to rage for years in certain districts, and 

 while some beekeepers used every means to get rid of it, they 

 found that, so long as their neighbours' hives were infected, it was 

 almost impossible. The deduction from this seems clearly to be, 

 that strong stocks should be kept ; and that the only safe cure 

 for all infected comb is to cut out, bury, or destroy it, but on no 

 account to allow the bees to get the honey from infected 

 stocks ; also to avoid importing any bees from a distance, as 

 through excitement and confinement the germs of disease are 

 sown. 



Many beekeepers may take a difi'erent view of this subject from 

 that I have stated, but if my remarks lead to investigation being 

 thoroughly and honestly made, and turn the train of thought 

 to an unoccupied field, it may in course of time bring forth an 

 abundant harvest of practical knowledge. 



VOL. III. N 



