AugoBt 13, 1868. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE QAUDKNEB. 



123 



it. So long as this admixtare, called Cuban honey, has not 

 undergone fermentation, it may bo safely given to bees ; and its 

 pestilential quality depends entirely upon the fact whether the 

 pressing took place when there was much unsealed brood in the 

 cells. Usually the pressing was done when the combs were 

 free from brood, but occasionally the want of empty hives to 

 accommodate all the numerous swarms, constrained the owners 

 to be less particular in that respect. Bee-keepers in the United 

 States, taught by experience that Cnbau honey is a dangerous 

 kind of bee food, avoid it altogether, and would not accept it 

 for that purpose as a gift. Thus far Mahan. PoUsh and other 

 foreign honey of commerce is of nearly the same character. 



In corroboration of this view, I quote also the observed fact 

 that such honey does not directly, but only indirectly produce 

 foul brood. It gradually contaminates the air in the hive, 

 developing a fa>tid odour, and thus causing disease, whichjalways 

 breaks out six or eight weeks after the noxious honey has been 

 administered. This is also confirmed by Dzierzon's experience, 

 who made all his stocks foul-breeding in 1848 by feeding with 

 Cuban honey. 



Third View. — It is believed by some that if brood which has 

 died from any cause is not removed by the bees it will become 

 putrid, and produce a contagious disease — that is, non-con- 

 tagious foul brood may under certain circumstances become 

 contagious. This, I conceive, is only too likely. In 1855 I 

 discovered a highly foitid foul-breeding hive in the apiary of 

 Mr. Oscar Ziegler, in Sohleusingen, which was forthwith con- 

 demned to the brimstone-pit. Mr. Ziegler bought this hive in 

 the neighbouring village, and the bees were suffocated while it 

 was being transported to his home. About eight days after a 

 swarm was put in it, and, thereupon, the non-contagious foul 

 brood immediately assumed the contagious form. 



Fourth View. — The disease may be caused by noxious dews 

 which sometimes occur while the fruit trees are in blossom. 

 This is a very old opinion. Hoffler said in 1060 — " In some 

 years the blossoms of trees are literally poisoned by dews and 

 mists, so as to make bees sick." In a conversation with 

 Dzierzon in 1855, while he was on a visit to Seebach, he said 

 he was inclined to accept this view. " I think," said he, " I 

 have frequently observed this in my own neighbourhood while 

 fruit trees were in blossom. Foul brood may originate thus, 

 although to these noxious dews is attributed the disease more 

 commonly known as vertigo." Were, however, such the case, 

 would not all the stocks within a certain range or circuit be 

 simultaneously and similarly aiieeted ? Hoffman Brand states 

 that in his foul-breeding hives the pollen was slimy, and appa- 

 rently undergoing a kind of fermentation ; which he ascribed 

 to the noxious qualities ot the dew. 



Fifth View. — The fungus called Mucor mellitophorus, which 

 is often found in the chyle stomach of bees, it is alleged, 

 exerts a deleterious iuflueoce on the preparation of the jelly, 

 so that the brood is not famished with a properly-digested 

 pabulum, and hence becomes diseased, dies, and putrefies. 

 The fungus is supposed to be thus the indirect cause of the 

 disease ; but this fungus is often found abundantly in colonies 

 entirely healthy, and Dr. Asmuss never found it in bees of foul- 

 breeding stocks. 



In addition to all this, we find many other conjectures offered 

 in bee books and by currespondents of the bee journals, none 

 of which seem to have any substantial basis. Mr. Kritz supposed 

 that foul brood may be caused by some unhealthy effluvium 

 emanating from the bee-keeper himself. Dr. Alefeld thinks it 

 may arise from a diseased con<iition ot the sexual organs of the 

 queen bee. Sumlitsch imagines it may result from the dust 

 blown into the hives from the streets and highways ; and even 

 the position assumed by Director Fischer in an article on " The 

 Origin, Nature, and Cause of Foul Brood," published in the 

 " Transactions " of the third meeting of German Agriculturists 

 In 1865 is of no account, being manifestly based on erroneous 

 premises.- 



In conclusion, I believe, as I have already stated, that foul 

 brood as it presents various phenomena and assumes various 

 forms or grades, so it may arise from various causes. At 

 present, however, we possess no tangible knowledge respecting 

 it. Bee-keepers should therefore be careful to ascertain, and 

 note the facts and circumstances whenever the disease comes 

 under their observation. Nur should they be in haste to form 



• Mr. Fischer has since protested against the adverse verdict pronoUDCed 

 by the Bariiu, declariug that he can " cause the best colony to become foul- 

 breeding in a few mouths, and cure a diseased colony in a still shoiter 

 time." I can only hope that t-e is right, and that if so the means of 

 cure will soon be made pubfec— A Devonsiube BEE-liEKPER, 



or propound theories. Above all, they should not neglect to 

 submit foul-broody combs when practicable to the examination 

 of some competent naturalist. I do not think it at all likely 

 that inexperienced bee-keepers unversed in physiology and 

 unpractised in the employment of the microscope will ever 

 advance us much in this direction unless aided by men 

 professionally prepared to prosecute scientific investigations, to 

 whom carefully observed facts would be invaluable. Only after 

 ascertaining the true nature of the disease may we hope possibly 

 to devise methods for its prevention and cure. — A. Von 



BerLEX'SCU. 



THE GERMAN CENTRIFUGAL HONEY 



EXTRACTING MACHINE. 



I FIND that Mr. James Lee, of Windlesham, Surrey, baa 

 undertaken the manufacture of these machines, which are 

 similar in every respect to the one described by me in page 

 405 of the last volume ot " our Journal." Although Mr. Lee 

 supplies his machines at so moderate a price as to bring them 

 within the reach of all classes of bee-keepers, he warrants them 

 in every respect as perfect as that which I originally imported, 

 and which is now in his possession. — A Devonshire Bee- 

 keeper. 



LARGE HONEY HARVESTS IN LARGE HIVES. 

 It is, I believe, nearly if not quite a quarter of a century 

 since Mr. A. Pettigrew, of Kusholme, near Manchester, first 

 advocated the use of hives, for first or top swarms, of " from 

 20 to 24 inches wide, and from 12 to 15 inches deep." This 

 veteran apiarian has favoured me with a sight of the following 

 letter recently received by him from an old correspondent 

 residing in his native village of Carluke, in Lanarkshire, which 

 in its details of results speaks strongly in favour of large hives. 

 Mr. Pettigrew says, that " it should be noted that at Carluke, 

 bees are kept on the swarming system, and that these heavy 

 hives are swarms of this year. I expect," he says, "they will 

 be 200 lbs. each ere the season ends." — A Devonshire Bek- 



KEEPEB. 



" Carluke, 4tli Angust, 1868. 



" My dear old Friend. — When you wrote your last note to me about 

 the bees they were in very bad trim, but ever since they have got on 

 well. There are many " tops " (first swarms) above 100 lbs. each. Mr. 

 H., one of my neighbours, has one estimated at 150 lbs. ; it was 

 117 lbs. more than three weeks ago, and if it has gained as mnch 

 since as some others standing beside it, it will be IM> lbs. They are 

 standing at Newbiggin, a better place for clover than this. My 

 heaviest cue was only 88 lbs. when I sent it away to the heather ; I 

 expect it is above 100 lbs. now. They have been on the heather for a 

 good while ; here about ten days ago they were making weight from it, 

 but the drought is veiy severe here now. I do not think the heather 

 cjin last long unless we get raiu ; we have scarcely h.ad a drop since 

 1 wrote to you last. 



" Yonr friend S. told me his stock was not heavy this year, but 

 they had plenty of bees and combs. He has three or four about 

 90 lbs. each. S. D., a man that goes to the heather along with 

 S., had one 120 lbs., but it stood at Thankertou— the clover has 

 been better there also than here. Our clayey soil is very hard. We 

 had not much clover this season." — Yours truly, " E. li." 



SILKWORM-REARING IN ENGLAND.— No. 15. 



Preventing Di.seases. — Various ingredients and methods 

 are recommended as cures for the different complaints of siUs- 

 wurms; but it is not my intention to biing tliem into notice, 

 my motto being that " Prevention is better than cure." In- 

 deed, silkworms generally speaking, do not give time, nor is it 

 ea^y to administer medicines for the cure of diseases which 

 often are not discoverable until too farcouEimed. The most 

 natural medicines are pure air, cleaulinebs, wholesome food, 

 (;,.u.<ii3ting of fresh-gathered g"od leaves, and the continual 

 maintenance of the requisite temperature of about 70°. For 

 liriimoting the ventilation of the rearing roum, it ih useful some- 

 iiuies to burn a handful of straw, shavings, or other light ma- 

 terial in the fireplace, especially when the worms are becoming 

 Urge; it puts the air in gentle motion. 



Tliere is a custom among the Italian peasantry of fumigating 

 the room by burning pieces of juniper, sweet herbs, &c., but 

 ' his practice I believe productive of no good ; on the contrary, 

 I tl ink the smoke does harm. 



A lo>v drops of viuegar falling on a red-hot dustpan or iron 

 »ill cause an agreeable vapour, which is Koid to sharpen lie 

 worms' appetite when they are slow at eating. 



