The Honey Bee 1495 



ECONOMY 



The greatest economy is derived from Italianizing in advance 

 of the advent of the disease, then nearly everything is saved, as 

 there is no purchasing of comb foundation, hives, frames, etc., 

 for treatment, only the purchase price of the Italian queens, and 

 labor of introducing, which can hardly be counted on this score, 

 as they are worth more than their cost outside of their agency in 

 warding off disease. 



I have met beekeepers, in my inspection work, who have taken 

 hold bravely and thoroughly treated by shaking their apiaries of 

 black and hybrid bees, but thought to economize by omitting the 

 introduction of the Italians, which I urged upon them as being 

 very essential. The result was that the following spring, one-half 

 of the treated colonies were reinfected, requiring the purchase of 

 an additional amount of comb foundation, frames, etc. Nor is 

 this all ; a considerable amount of the surplus honey crop is 

 sacrificed whenever a colony is shaken during a honey flow — thus, 

 besides the extra expense incurred by treatment each season, there 

 is an actual loss of labor and income. Where but few colonies are 

 kept, this matter is not very important, but when the principal 

 income is from the apiary, the difference becomes rather serious. 



Of course, I do not recommend the purchase of Italian queens 

 in large numbers if the beekeeper is so situated and experienced 

 that he can rear them cheaper and of as good quality himself. 

 However, this is not often the case, and some of the most extensive 

 apiarists purchase them by the hundred from professional breed- 

 ers. The price for good stock is now so low that it is far from 

 prohibitive. 



It has been reported that Italianizing has not been found to be 

 as effectual in handling American foul brood. I have had no 

 experience along that line, and regret that I have nothing more 

 effectual than shaking to offer in the treatment of this disease. 



