GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



they do not disturb us so mueli. To help 

 along- still more, so they won't disturb us 

 at all, we lay a damp cloth across the en- 

 trance just before we set the colony on the 

 scales, and leave it there several minutes 

 after the colony has been returned to the 



stand. If four damp cloths are used, the 

 hives can be handled as fast as two people 

 can work, and the bees won't be likely to 

 raise a rumpus. 



North East, Md. 



[See editorial comment elsewhere. — Ed.] 



THE VALUE OF ITALIAN BEES IN FIGHTING EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD 



BY H. HARLEY SELWYN 



It seems to me our veteran Canadian 

 beekeeper, Mr. Holtermann, needs some 

 cheering- up on the matter of European foul 

 brood (see Gleanings, page 707, Sept. 1). 

 It does sound odd to m.e to hear of one who 

 has been so long in the business meeting 

 only now with this disease. My bees and 

 European foul brood have grown up to- 

 gether, and I feel I know its vagaries so 

 well it causes me little more worry than an 

 absconding swarm in Auga;st. In fact, I 



Sections plared in a super without starters. 

 struction of comb in each section, and imagine 

 them from the super. Photographed by Charles Y 



liave such peace of mind in regard to it now 

 that I hope to lighten our good friend of 

 this incubus which apparently has come to 

 burden his mind. 



To sum the whole matter up in a nutshell, 

 I believe in and practice the three words, 

 " Keep Italian bees." They will look after 

 European foul brood, and if Mr. Holter- 

 mann or any one else does the same his 

 troubles will shortly be at an end. 



While on the toiDic of European foul 

 brood there are some 

 observations I should 

 like to make. These 

 are based on experi- 

 ence, and may be 

 useful to those hav- 

 In^- yet to encounter 

 the disease. In the 

 first place, let me say 

 that I would have 

 Italianized before 

 the disease was 

 brought to the yard 

 had I known then 

 what I know now. 

 The penalty I paid 

 wa.s to lose a crop of 

 honey, render down 

 over 1600 combs, and 

 work day and night 

 to save any bees at 

 all. 



Notwithstanding the 

 fact that Italians can 

 rise up in the midst 

 of European foul 

 brood and overcome 

 it, I believe that they 

 m u s t sulfer fii'st 

 (some worse tlia-i 

 others) before be- 

 coming imnnuie to 

 otlier ravages. This 

 question of immu- 

 nity should, in my 

 opinion, receive more 

 consideration. Dis- 



Note the different con- ease comes to a man's 

 the trouble in removing j tt t* .i;„.iU^= 



Hake. yard. He Italianizes, 



