FOULBROOD 



Circnlar So. 39 



Supplement to Special Bulletius Xos. 5S aud U4 



BY B. F. KIXDIG 



In addition to the subject matter treated in Special Bulletins numbers 

 58 and 64, we desire to add the following information relating to the 

 cure or control of European foul-brood. Attention is especially directed 

 to the disease resistant qualities of the best grade of Italian stock. 

 Among them foul-brood does not cause serious damage in such colonies 

 as are kept strong at all times and there is a gradual decline in the num- 

 ber of colonies affected in yards where the best bee-keeping practices are 

 in operation. 



The Italian race of bees is the only one which has proved itself re- 

 si.stant to European foul-brood and is. also, the most tractable and at 

 the same time the most profitable from the standpoint of honey produc- 

 tion. The disease is widely scattered over the state and the predominat- 

 ing race of bees is so largely Black, that it seems at present, that the 

 most vital need of Michigan bee-keepers is the eradication of the Black 

 bees and the complete Italianization of all colonies. Not all Italian 

 queens come from colonies or apiaries of resistant stock. Beekeepers 

 should not purchase their qtieens except from reliable breeders. After 

 testing a number of queens in the yard for a year in order to observe 

 which are the most resistant to disease: which are most tractable: aud 

 which are most profitable from the standpoint of prodtiction : then, the 

 one queen which measures up in the highest degree to the standard set 

 should be used as a queen-mother from which to rear sulficient young 

 queens. for requeening the entire yard and all other colonies in the neigh- 

 borhood. Unless the colonies in the vicinit^^ of the apiary are also re- 

 queened, the stock is likely to soon degenerate because of the admixture 

 of Black blood. A few (queens should be purchased from year to year 

 from relialde breeders, and should l»e carefully tested along -with those 

 reared in the yard and any other breeding qtieens selected. 



When colonies of Italian bees are allowed to become weak, then the 

 characteristic resistance is greatly diminished or lost. Therefore, strength 

 of colony is a matter equally as important as Italian blood but does 

 not at all take the place of Italian stock. Strength of colony and Italian 

 stock must l.dih be present in all colonies at all times in order to succes.s- 

 fully resist or eradicate European foul-brood. When the disease is present 

 in an ai)iarv of Black «»r hvbrid blood. Italianizing and the doubling 

 up of weakened colonies until strong colonies are made, should lie 

 (l«»ue at the -same time and at the very earliest opportunity possible in 

 order to bring the disease under control. If it is necessary to wait for 

 some time in securing the Italian queens, then it is recommended that 

 tlie Alexander Treatment hereafter described be used. 



