Oct. 8, 1903. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



649 



possibly in worse form than ever ? Some say that in Cuba, 

 where they probably have had the disease much longer than 

 we, even the McEvoy plan does not cure. The old saying, 

 that " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, " 

 is, no doubt, true in foul brood. If we can become more 

 informed concerning the working of this disease, or the 

 habits or diet of this germ, might we not be enabled to 

 prevent wholly its introduction among our bees ? Further- 

 more, might not the foul brood bacillus be propagated else- 

 where except within a bee-hive ? 



The human mouth is a natural incubator for many 

 germs ; some are necessary to our health, digestion, etc. 

 However virulent, microbes have been found in the human 

 mouth, which, when injected under the skin of a rabbit, often 

 resulted in death to the rabbit. (See page 176, Microbes, 

 Ferments and Molds, Vol. No. 56, Industrial Scientific 

 Series, by E. L. Troussart.) I do not think the bacillus alvei 

 would be found in the human mouth, but mention this to 

 show that some germs have different meansof propagating. 



The " A B C of Bee-Culture" says that the spores of 

 bacillus alvei will withstand two hours boiling, and some 

 be still alive. But scientific authority says that 60 minutes 

 boiling at a temperature of 212 degrees F. will kill all kinds 

 of spores. Now, no doubt many pounds of wax is annually 

 rendered from combs thoroughly alive with spores, and 

 probably even sent from Cuba, this being made up into 

 foundation, distributed broadcast throughout the United 

 States. What assurance have we that this wax has been 

 subjected to 212 degrees F. for two hours? If it has not, 

 can any one give us a truthful reason why foundation made 

 from such wax would not start the disease ? 



If, as " A B C of Bee Culture" says, the spores will 

 withstand two hours boiling, and live in a dried state eight 

 years, as Mr. France has proven them, they surely can live 

 in foundation unless boiled as stated. I am inclined to be- 

 lieve that since the McEvoj' and France plan of treating 

 foul brood began, the disease is being distributed in foun- 

 dation. Formerly all diseased combs were burned. I hope, 

 however, that I am mistaken. 



I believe I understood Mr. France to say at the Chicago 

 convention, that when he rids an apiary of foul brood he has 

 a wax-press with him, and renders up the wax. I would 

 like to ask Mr. France whether he boils the wax two hours 

 or more, or even for 60 minutes. Also, what is done with 

 this wax — is it sold on the market? I understand that Mr. 

 France has tested this matter by taking wax so rendered to 

 the manufacturer and using the foundation afterwards, and 

 no disease resulted. I would like to ask Mr. France, in all 

 kindness, do you firmly believe that all such wax, innocently 

 bought on the market, would be treated as that was, or 

 heated as that was, that is, by all United States wax-foun- 

 dation manufacturers? Knox Co., 111. 



I Our Bee-Heepin$ Sisters ) 



Conducted by Emma M. Wilson, Marengo, 111. 



Sulphur for Bee-Paralysis. 



I agree with the bee-man, sulphur will cure bee-paraly- 

 sis. I have used it for two years, when the bees were 

 dying off with it. The way I did was, I took off the cover 

 and sifted it down between tho frames in the top box, but I 

 did not spare the sulphur. I then covered them up, and 

 went to the front and put a half cupful on the alighting- 

 board and entrance way, so they would be obliged to go 

 through the sulphur to get into the hive. I repeated the 

 treatment three times. I did not disturb the brood-frames 

 in the brood-chamber ; the brood hatched out all right, and 

 they were as strong as anj' in the apiary. 



Merced Co., Calif., Sept. 3. Mrs. Artie Bowkn. 



This is confirmatory of the testimony of Mr. O. O. Pop- 

 pleton (see page 535). Your plan of proceeding, however, 

 is a little different. He sifted the sulphur with his fingers 

 directly into the brood-chamber, while you put it in the sur- 

 plus chamber. Of course, it would be likely to sift down 

 into tVje brood-chamber from the super. Mr. Poppleton also 

 took the precaution to remove unsealed brood or eggs, as 

 hese are injured by the sulphur. You do not say just how 



you sifted in the sulphur. Mr. Poppleton tried an insect- 

 powder gun, but found he could do better work with his 

 fingers. Would not a pepper-box or flour-dredge work well ? 

 Possibly it should be specially made, with the perforated 

 part long and narrow, so as to deliver the sulphur not on 

 the top-bars, but in the space between them. 



Blue Vitriol to Kill Grass. 



Alva Agee, in the National Stockman and Farmer, 

 gives the following for driveways, walks, etc.: 



" All grass and weeds can be exterminated in drive- 

 ways, walks, etc., by a very strong solution of blue vitriol. 

 I prefer to dissolve one pound of the bluestone to each one 

 gallon of water, and enough of the solution is used to wet 

 the surface of the ground slightly. It is far superior to 

 salt. To dissolve as many pounds of the bluestone as there 

 are gallons of water, it is necessary to suspend it in a bag 

 at the surface of the water, as the strongest solution sinks 

 to the bottom of the barrel. The solution eats through tin 

 quickly." 



Why would this not be"a fine thing to use in the apiary 

 to keep down the grass and weeds around the hives ? 



Clipping Queen's Wings. 



I enjoy reading the American Bee Journal very much, 

 and especially our own department. I purchased 2 colonies 

 a year ago last fall, and increased to 5. but lost one last 

 spring. I know very little about handling them. My uncle 

 advises me some, but he lives about 4 miles from me, so I 

 have to blunder along most of the time. 



I wanted to clip my queens this spring, but felt timid 

 about it, as I have no text-book, and I never saw any one 

 clip a queen. I had very little honey last year, but I am 

 iti hopes to have more this year. There is lots of white 

 clover in blossom here. It seems favorable for a good crop. 



Nina Burgett. 



I know just how nervous you feel about clipping those 

 queens, but really it is not such a dreadful thing to do, after 

 all. First catch the queen by the wings, then hold her by 

 the head and thorax in the left hand, slip the scissors under 

 the wings on one side, give a clip, and the thing is done. 



Bee-Liore in the Public Schools seems to be od a par with 

 a good deal of the bee-lore in general found outside of the bee-papers 

 and bee-books. This view is confirmed by the receipt of a number of 

 passages sent by Ella Anderson, who is very likely one of the " school 

 ma'ams " of the great State of . Texas. Concerning the passages 

 quoted, she says: "The above is a specimen of the way in which bee- 

 keeping is taught in our school-books. It has been copied • word for 

 word ' from one of the most common Ijooks now in use." Amongst 

 the information given is this: 



" First of all we see some half-dozen bees around the door 



If we approach too near the front of the hive, one of these sentries 

 will dash forward with an angry buzz; and if we do not wisely take 

 the hint, the brave little soldier will soon return with help from the 

 guard-room to enforce the command." 



Fancy a cross bee letting up to go and get some other bee to do 

 the stinging. 



" The honey-gatherers and the ' wax-gatherers ' carry their stores 

 in their throats." Do they gather the wax from flowers, or where* 

 and is so much wax in their throats a sure preventive of croup? .Just 

 one more precious bit : 



" The honey-gatherers and ' wax-gatherers ' draw in the sweet 

 juices from flowers bv their ' trunks.' The ' trunk ' serves as a mouth 

 and pump. The liquid passes through this into the throat, and is 

 thus carried to the hive." 



Isn't that richness for you? 



Why Not Help a Little— both your neighbor bee-keep- 

 ers and the old American Bee Journal— by sending to us the 

 names and addresses of such as you may know do not now 

 get this journal ? We will be glad to send them sample 

 copies, so that they may become acquainted with the paper, 

 and subscribe for it, thus putting themselves in the line of 

 success with bees. Perhaps you can get them to subscribe, 

 send in their dollars, and secure for your trouble some of 

 the premiums we are constantly offering as rewards for 

 such effort. 



