GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



The spring wheelbarrow used by Ed. Swenson, of Spring Valley, Minn. Used for hauling bees and honey. 

 The box in front is for carrying the smoker and tools. 



FOUL-BROOD INSPECTION IN IDAHO 



Some Interesting Details of a Bee Inspector's Life 



BY W. E. RAMBO 



Aneut your account of foi;l-bi'ood inspec- 

 tion in Ohio, p. 516, Aug. 1, a similar ex- 

 perience in Idaho may be of interest. I 

 bought two colonies in the spring in box 

 hives at half price, intending to transfer 

 and build up a small apiary. I set stand- 

 ard hives on top of them till the qi;een 

 should begin work. When that took place in 

 one, I cut out the old combs and found a 

 bad case of foul brood. This induced me 

 to transfer the other colony at once. I 

 found it still worse. The first colony pro- 

 duced a fine lot of sealed brood which be- 

 came badly affected by hatching time, neces- 

 sitating a second transfer. Both eolonias 

 are doing well now, but will accomplish 

 nothing more than preparation for winter. 



I began to inquire, then to suspect, that 

 foul brood was very prevalent. I wrote 

 the State Inspector. He sent Mr, E. J. 

 Johnson, of Fruitland, inspector for Dis- 

 trict No. 6, which includes Boise County 

 and the Payette Valley. I accompanied Mr. 

 Johnson on July 21 and 22, mostly on foot. 

 The experience was an eye-opener. Many 

 colonies were in boxes. Many that were on 

 loose frames had been put in without start- 

 lers or foundation, and the combs so badly 

 crossed that inspection was practically im- 

 possible. The law in Idaho condemns all 

 such, giving the owner five days within 



which either to transfer or destroy them. 

 Of hives that could be inspected, over 10 

 per cent were found infected with foul 

 brood. Here are figures kindly given me by 

 Mr. Johnson : 



In fifteen days' inspection, between May 

 28 and July 31, 965 colonies were inspected. 

 Of these, 171 were condemned, being in box 

 hives, and 103 for foul brood; 691 were 

 passed. Those in boxes included nail-kegs, 

 a wooden jacket from an oil-can, old tubs, 

 soap-boxes, stick giims, etc. I suspect that 

 many of these had foul brood. The com- 

 mon excuse for conditions was : " This gol- 

 durn swarm lit out there on that there plum 

 tree, 'n' I jes' shuck 'um into that nail-kag. 

 I don't know nothin' about 'em, 'n' I don't 

 care a durn fur 'em. I jes' eal'ated I'd 

 sulphur 'em in the fall and git some honey 

 t' eat ; but 'f your s' durn pertickler about 

 ut, I'll jes' kill 'em right now. I cain't do 

 nothin' with 'em; they jes' sting me, 'f I go 

 in a rod uv 'um, 'n hit's pisener 'n' rattle- 

 snakes." Well, may be 10 2-3 per cent is 

 not bad; and I suspect inaccessible hives 

 will account for at least that much more. 

 About 225 were transferred ; 50 were burn- 

 ed ; 110 places were \'isited, and the milage 

 was 385. 



Mr. Johnson told me that he definitely 

 knows of 1700 colonies which have not been 

 inspected. Of course, there are many un- 

 known. He passed by the larger apiaries 

 which appeared to be well cared for, and 

 where the owner knew and was fighting foul 

 brood. He argued (rightly, I think) that 



