^(l^ KMF.KR 15, 1915 



931 



Showing more in detail how the bees worlied without starters. Photographed by Hake. 



and \vorks hard for several years treating 

 disease by shaking, requeening, and feed- 

 ing. After a time he finds tlie colonies are 

 all quite healthy. Such conditions hold good 

 as long as lie keeps his pure-bz'ed Italian 

 queens heading each colony. 



It is to be understood that he has done 

 his own breeding and selecting from tliose 

 liives surmounting disease most rapidly. 

 Then comes the day wlien a very dark cross 

 dominates a colony. At the first honey 

 dearth of consequence this hive shows dis- 

 eased larvae badly. Where did the disease 

 come from ? That is what is puzzling many 

 beekeepei-s today. At any rate the ])oint I 

 wish to make is this: Italians must become 

 immune; and as long as that strain con- 

 tinues in a yard, everything goes well. To 

 carry the point further, I would also state 

 disease might be prevented in many anoth- 

 er man's yard by the introduction and use 

 of such immune strains of bees. In fact, I 

 have seen it done. 



Furthermore, there is the matter of the 

 spread of European foul brood through 

 slii lament of colonies of bees to outside 

 points. I should like to inquire whether 

 the government is going to be able to con- 

 trol this spread of disease when Italian 

 colonies can harbor the disease from season 

 to season without its appearance until the 

 chance comes for a reversion to the black 

 strain of bee. It does not seem to me that 

 any amount of quarantining will bring it to 



light under such conditions. In my own 

 yard, for instance, I feel I am safe in 

 offering to have the best foul-brood expert 

 in Canada come and examine every hive for 



A wasp-nest beside a honeycomb in the section. 

 Photographed by Hake. 



