Dec. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.SM. 887 



being- afterwards made in the ground, and the frames containing combs 

 properly burned up. The other parts of the hive are scorched and after- 



• wards immersed in boiling water for further surety. 



More Populous Hives. 



For successful treatment of populous and fairly populous hives, a honey 

 flow is necessary, and if at any time treatment is delayed through no flow 

 being on, the precautions to prevent robbing in the meantime must be rigidly 

 observed. The treatment, as already indicated, consists of the complete 

 removal and separation of the bees from the infected hive. The procedure 

 is as follows, and is best carried out after the bees have finished work for 

 the day: — 



The apiarist first makes ready (1) a clean hive (preferably a new one) 

 with frames containing comb foundation only; (2) a carrying box, with 

 sound bottom and a sack to act as cover; (3) a smoker; (4) a home-made 

 brush; and (5) a boiler full of boiling water. The operation should take 

 place, as in the case of the treatment already described, during the late 

 afternoon, as soon as all the bees have finished work for the day. The 

 infected colony is then lightly smoked, removed from its stand, and the 

 newly-prepared hive, containing foundation only, set in the vacant position. 

 A sound sheet of newspaper is next weighted down in front of and right up 

 to the alighting board of the new hive, and any others in the close vicinity 

 of the infected colony are screened so as to prevent drifting bees from 

 entering. 



The bees from the infected hive are then transferred to their clean 

 quarters. The procedure is to open up the infected hive, remove the frames 

 one at a time, and shake and brush some of the bees off the first frame 

 right inside the clean hives, and all the remainder on to the newspaper in 

 front of the clean hive. As each frame is cleared of bees it is put in the 

 carrying box and the latter covered with a sack. 



After the bees have been removed, the infected material should at once 

 be taken to the boiler. The frames are first immersed in boiling water for 

 thirty minutes, the wax and refuse skimmed off, and the other hive parts 

 then immersed for a similar time. The carrying: box and brush should be 

 sterilised with boiling water or burned, and the newspaper used in the 

 operation should also be burned. Before making use of any treated frames 

 they should again be cleaned in boiling water. The other hive parts should 

 be painted inside and out. 



As soon as all the bees have entered the new hive, fasten up the entrance 

 securely with wire cloth and remove the hive to any bee-proof room where 



• thev will not be interfered with. About dusk on the third day after treat- 

 ment the hive should be returned to its stand, a little smoke delivered at 

 the entrance, and the entrance screen removed. 



Where a large number of colonies are to be treated at one time the 

 removal of the transferred colonies is not practicable, and a piece of ex- 

 cluder is neatly fitted on the entrance to minimise the risk of absconding. 



