wooden buildings. But, as in a fire-swept town, progressive men will rebuild better 

 than before, so in the disease-swept counties progressive beekeepers are now 

 making more money than ever by the use of the well-bred Italian bees which they 

 were compelled to adopt. 



American Foul Brood. 



This disease is caused by bacteria known to scientists as Bacillus Larvae (not 

 B. Alvei, as was formerly supposed). It reaches the healthy young larvae by means 

 of infected food unsuspectingly fed to them by the nurse bees. In most cases the 

 larva dies when nearly ready to seal up, and most of the cells containing infected 

 larvae are capped. The dead larva softens, settles to the lower side of the cell 

 in a shapeless mass, at first white or yellow, changing to coffee-color and brown. 

 At this stage it becomes glutinous, so that if it is picked with a toothpick the con- 



piG_ 1. — American Foul-Brood comb, showing irregular patches of sunken cappings and 

 scales. The position of the comb indicates the best way to view the scales. (U.S. 

 Dept. of Ag. Far. Bui. 442.) 



tents will rope out half an inch or so when the pick is slowly withdrawn. It ad- 

 heres to the cell so it cannot be lifted out entire. It has the odor of a poor quality 

 of glue. When the larva dries it forms a tightly adhesive scale, of very dark brown 

 color. 



" Pupae also may die of this disease, in which case they, too, dry down (fig. 2, 

 0, d), became ropy, and have the characteristic odor and color. The tongue fre- 

 quently adheres to the upper side wall, and often remains there even after the 

 pupa has dried down to a scale. Younger unsealed larvae are sometimes affected. 

 Usually the disease attacks only worker brood, but occasional cases are found in 

 which queen and drone brood are diseased." — {U. S. Dept. of Ag. Farmers' Bui. 

 442.) 



Where the infected larvae are capped the cappings turn a darker color and 

 become flat or sunken; the workers, perceiving that something is wrong, usually 

 start to tear off the capping, but, discovering the condition of the contents, they 



