66 MEETING OF INSPECTORS OF APIARIES. 
the bees, and that is that if we treat the bees during the honey flow 
there is so much danger of shaking out the honey and starting the 
disease again in that way. The other thing with which we have to 
contend is robbing. During a honey flow there is a good deal of 
inside robbing almost all the time. Until we find something that 
is absolutely sure and absolutely a good thing we shall resort to the 
burning of colonies whenever we find them infected. The way we 
use the fire treatment is to inspect the yards and then toward evening 
we dig a pit about 10 feet wide, according to the number of colonies 
to be treated, and build a brush fire. By the time we have that 
burning well we go to the colonies that are to be “ treated” and use 
sulphur in a smoker. The entrance is smoked a little, and this kills 
all the bees. We go from one colony to another to kill the bees, to 
keep them from leaving the hives in handling; we know that no live 
bees can escape from those colonies. We remove the combs and burn 
them, then the bottom boards and the covers are treated over the 
flames. The hive bodies are stacked on a single bottom board, and 
from a small can of kerosene we pour just a little oil from the 
top down the sides; by throwing in some dry grass or anything of 
that kind, which has been hghted first, the fire will start at the bot- 
tom and the hive bodies will act as a chimney. In that way we 
scorch the hive bodies for a few minutes. As soon as these have 
been scorched sufficiently we close up the top with a bottom board or 
cover and close the entrance of the hive with earth; then we leave 
them for a little while for what we call “ steaming.” - 
Mr. Anperson. Is there any way of safely detecting American 
foul brood before the cells are broken, and how long is it after it is 
sealed before the cap is broken? That is a question I have been dis- 
cussing at home, and I would like to know if there is a way that it 
can be detected. For instance, if you have not treated a colony suc- 
cessfully, or suppose American foul brood has been in your locality 
and you are waiting for it, can you catch it before all the larve are 
exposed ? 
If there are only two or three diseased cells in a colony and if you 
cut those out, will the disease go any farther? I have read that if 
the cell cappings are broken and you take out those particular cells 
you will never see the disease again in that colony. I have heard an 
inspector say that he can tell the disease in his own apiary. He 
claims that there is a way to tell it before the capping is broken, and 
he says he can take away the disease then and it will not reappear. 
I know he can, because he has proved it. He can tell where foul 
brood is before he can actually see it. He further says that the 
larve are killed, but do not show it for forty-two days afterwards. 
Now, I want to know if anyone else has found such to be the case. 
Doctor Puiuures. I think his record stands alone. 
