EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. r>31 



bee» be iutentiouully fed ior them to get disease froiri contaminated 

 honey. Discarded honey receptacles which have contained honey from 

 a contaminated colony, if not thoroughly cleaned, may contain enough 

 honey to carry disease to a healthy apiary. This may occur in the vi- 

 cinity of bakeries or confectionery shops, or may even occur when empty 

 honey bottles are thrown out from private houses. It is also possible 

 to introduce disease into a colony in introducing queen bees purchased 

 from a distance, probably due to the use of contaminated honey in 

 making the candy to supply the queen cages." 



PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. 



"In combating diseases it is much better to prevent disease from getting 

 a foothold than it is to eradicate it after it has begun its work. All 

 beekeepers, wherever located, should practice the following i)recaution- 

 ary measures:" 



"(1) If a colony becomes Aveak from any cause, or if disease is sus- 

 l)ected, contract the entrance to prevent robbing, and if robbing is im- 

 minent close the entrance entirely." 



"(2) Neve?' feed honey purchased on the open market. In case of 

 doubt as to the source of hom^y feed sugar sirup." 



**(3) If within the range of possibility, see that no honey that comes 

 from diseased apiaries is sold in the neighborhood. This may sometimes 

 be accomplished by cultivating the home market so that there will be 

 no incentive for bringing in other honey." 



"(4) In introducing purchased queens, transfer them to clean cages 

 l)rovided with candy known to be free from contamination, and destroy 

 Ihe old cage, candy, and accompanying workers. Of course, if it is cer- 

 tain that the queen conies from a healthy apiary this is not necessary." 



"(5) Colonies of bees should never be purchased unless it is certain 

 that they are free from disease." 



"(G) The purchase of old combs or second-hand supplies is dangerous, 

 unless it is certain that they came from healthy apiaries." 



TREATMENT TOR BOTH INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



"The treatment of an infectious bee disease consists primarily in the 

 elimination or removal of the cause of the disease. It is definitely known 

 that American foul brood is caused by a bacillus named Bacillus larvae. 

 In treating this disease, therefore, the aim of the manipulation is to 

 remove or destroy all of the bacteria of this species. It should be re- 

 membered that the effort is not to save the larvae that are already dead 

 or dying, but to stop the further devastation of the disease by removing 

 all material capable of transmitting the cause of the trouble." 



"The cause of European foul brood is not definitely known, but the 

 same principles of treatment doubtless apply in this disease also. In 

 all of the operations great pains should be taken not to spread the dis- 

 ease through carelessness. After handling a diseased colony the hands 

 of the operator should be washed with water to remove any honey that 

 may be on them. It does not pay to treat colonies that are consider- 

 ably weakened by disease. In case there are several such colonies they 



