332 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



runty queens not of the right stamp to 

 head honey colonies, much less to cope 

 with the black brood epidemic. All 

 queens should be reared at all times in 

 full colonies, preferably in colonies 

 strengthened with the addition of frames 

 of emerging brood from other iiealthy 

 colonies. 



MODIFIED ALEXANDER SYSTEM A SUCCESS. 



A further modification of the Alexan- 

 der, or Alexander-Miller, system has 

 proved itself more of a success; in fact, 

 when systematically prosecuted through- 

 out the whole apiary and its environs, 

 the modified system about to be de- 

 scribed has been found to be adequate 

 and equal to the occasion. With the 

 earliest symptoms of black brood, colo- 

 nies are dequeened. At the same time 

 all combs containing any signs of diseased 



Galvanized iron tank in position for 

 boiling combs. 



brood are taken away and immediately 

 boiled up for the wax that is in them. A 

 convenient plan is to throw them right 

 into a large galvanized iron tank of boil- 

 ing water heated over a fire built in a 

 pit just beneath the can as it stands in 

 the open. A very desirable shape of can 

 is a rectangular can provided with a 



partition running crosswise and extend- 

 ing nearly to the bottom. The combs are 

 placed in one side for melting and then 

 with the aid of a forked stick the frames 

 are thoroughly rinsed and pushed under 

 the partition into the clean water of the 

 other side, where they may be further 

 boiled and removed free of wax. To 

 assist in freeing the wax from the residue 

 of cocoons, cast larval skins and other 

 impurities in the combs, collectively and 

 expressively spoken of as "slumgum," 

 five per cent, of commercial sulphuric 

 acid may be added. A stronger solution 

 is not any more effective and is liable to 

 make the wax brittle, deteriorating it in 

 value. A wax press, preferably on the 

 Hatch principle, arranged, however, for 

 pressure under hot water, is the most 

 effective type. The melted comb and 

 hot water may be dipped into burlap 

 and folded in the press, and pressure 

 applied, alternately released, several 

 times before the hot water and melted 

 wax is permitted to run off. 



To return to the apiary. In about ten 

 days queen cells should be removed, and 

 again any further infected brood taken 

 away and immediately rendered up. 

 Then either ripe queen cells or virgin 

 queens may be given the colonies thus 

 treated. Or if it is planned to introduce 

 laying queens they should be permitted 

 to remain queenless ten to fifteen days 

 longer. Weak colonies should be 

 united and emerging brood given them. 

 In the absence of a honey flow, system- 

 atic feeding for stimulation should be 

 begun. For this it is not necessary to 

 provide feeders, though feeders of the 

 Mclntyre type on the rear of the hives, 

 or of the Alexander type under the rear 

 of the hives, will be found convenient. 

 The writer in his experiments in the field 

 went down the rows of the apiary, and 

 raising the covers of the hives, poured 

 in about a half pint of warm syrup 

 (equal parts of granulated sugar and 

 water by weight) in the top story of 

 each colony, just at sundown, to avoid 

 robbing. 



