GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



another on good fly days. The stronger 

 colonies in the row will draw from the 

 weakei'. When the weather is favorable, 

 the flying bees in the air are inclined to 

 join the procession where there are the most 

 bees flying, and they will be in front of 

 the strongest colonies, of eoiu'se. The re- 

 si-'lt is, the stronger grow stronger at the 

 exi^ense of the weaker. 



The same thing can occur where the 

 hives are packed in gi-oups of four; but to 

 a verj^ much less extent because there are 

 only two colonies on one side and the bees 

 of either are not as likely to get confused 

 as they are when there are a dozen en- 

 trances side by side. Dr. C. C. Miller says 

 when colonies are put in pairs bees don't 

 drift much. If this is true, the quadruple 

 scheme is much superior. 



This is a fruitful theme for discussion, 

 and we should like to have those of our 

 subscribers who have tried the two methods 

 tell us about them; or if you have tried 

 only the long-row scheme of packing, tell us 

 of the objections, if any, that exist against 

 the plan. 



That New or Old Bee Disease ; More 

 Data Needed 



On page 784, Oct. 1, we said something 

 about the new disease or malady that has 

 been so destructive to colonies in the West 

 and extreme Northwest. We learned of its 

 active operations in and about Portland, 

 Oregon. We have had considerable corre- 

 spondence with Mr. E. G. Ladd, of the 

 Portland Seed Co., who obser\'es, among 

 other things, that weather conditions are an 

 important factor, and that some colonies are 

 more immune than others to the ravages of 

 the disease. In answer to a recent letter in 

 reply to one from us Mr. Ladd makes some 

 observations concerning Nosema apis, or 

 bee paralysis, or both, that are worth plac- 

 ing before the public. He writes : 



Mr. Root :■ — Your conclusion that the bees in some 

 colonies were affected more than the bees in others 

 admits of no argument: neither does the question 

 of weather conditions being responsible for it, as 

 undoubtedly the trouble disappears when good 

 weather conditions prevail. Whether the sick bees 

 recover, we are not prepared to say, but believe 

 not. I am inclined to think affected bees disappear 

 and die. 



Sulphur is one of the best known fungicides, and 

 colonies treated with sulphur were cured or the 

 trouble was checked; but in no instance was a colo- 

 ny saved that was treated with sulphur. Although 

 apparently cured, they dwindled away. The appli- 

 cation of sulphur killed the brood, and the bees were 

 a sickly lot, and supposedly became discouraged and 

 quit trying. 



My garden record this summer shows potatoes 

 and tomatoes blighting badly. They were sprayed 

 with Bordeaux, but there was not sufficient to go 



around, and part of them were not sprayed. Weath- 

 er conditions turned warm and bright, and immedi- 

 ately the blight was checked, and the unsprayed lot 

 gave as fine a crop as ever grew, and no difference 

 was discernible between the sprayed and the un- 

 sprayed. , 



I find by the bee record that the date of improve- 

 ment in garden corresponded with date of improve- 

 ment in bees ; but no bee was ever, as far as I 

 know, seen on a potato or tomato, and I do not 

 know if they visit the blossoms or not. Tlie re- 

 markable feature of the whole business is that local- 

 ity apparently had nothing to do with it. Bees in 

 the momitains, in high altitudes, were stricken, as 

 were those in the valley. Bees protected from the 

 weather were no more free than those exposed ; but., 

 as one good old lady remarked. " It just beats all 

 how them bees do die." 



Let us hope that there will be no recurrence, and 

 that it will not be necessary for Dr. Phillips to 

 visit any section looking for a cause of this affliction, 

 and sincerely hope no more such reports will be 

 offered by yours. Portland Seep Co., 



per Ladd. 



Portland, Ore., Nov. 3. 



We should like to get a list of symptoms 

 from other parties who have suffered from 

 this disease, for the purpose of comparison. 

 One thing we wish to determine is whether 

 it is the old bee paralysis, or namelces bee 

 disease, of former days, or Nosema Apis of 

 these latter days. If it is not paralysis, in 

 what respect does it differ from it, and in 

 what otlier respects is it similar? The more 

 data we can get together just after an epi" 

 demic of this disease in this country, the 

 better able we shall be to learn what it is. 



In this connection we may add that some 

 colonies or some strains, rather, are more 

 immune to bee paralysis than others. This 

 fact has been proved beyond qitestion in 

 Australia, where bee paralysis was so epi- 

 demic and destructive that the beekeepers 

 there, as a last resort, selected colonies that 

 were more immune than others. Bv a con- 

 tinual selection they finally secured strains 

 that were entirely immune. Later on, Mr. 

 R. E. Beuhne, of Tooberac, Australia, in- 

 troduced some other strains of Italians 

 from Europe and America. These imme- 

 diately fell victims to bee paralysis. It 

 was only after he had weeded out all traces 

 of introduced strains that he was able to 

 bring the disease under control. Mr. 

 Beuhne is one of the most careful observers 

 of bee life in the world. 



Now, then, what we should like to deter- 

 mine is whether the bee paralysis of Atis- 

 tralia and of the southern United States is 

 the same as the Nosema apis of Great 

 Britain. Is it the same as that disease or 

 malady, whatever it is, tnat has been work- 

 ing sucli havoc in some western apiaries in 

 the norf Invest part of the country, in and 

 about Portland, Oregon? What relation 

 has humidity or much rainfall to tlie recur- 

 rence and \'irulence of the disease? 



