maladies of bees. 253 



Maladies of Bees. 



A Mr. Huish, who appears to have attended much to the 

 management of bees, acknowledges great difhculty, both in 

 discovering the maladies of tlie bee, and the remedies ; but 

 adds, if you have many hives, and any one becomes sickly, re- 

 move it as soon as possible, that it may not infect the remain- 

 der. If you have but few hives, you may attempt first to inves- 

 tigate the disease, and next its cure. He farther states, that 

 the dysentary is one of the most common, as well as fatal dis- 

 eases of the bee. And that the mark of this disease, is the ex- 

 crement voided by the bee at the entrance of the hives, in 

 spots, like linseed, nearly black, and of an insupportable smell; 

 and that this malady is contagious. The bees, when afSicted 

 with this disease, destroy each other, by contaminating their 

 wings with this excrement, and thus stop the organs of perspi- 

 ration. The cause of this disease is, by some, ascribed to new 

 honey, when eaten in winter ; by some, to the deficiency of 

 propolis, or bee bread ; and by others, to the flowers of the elm» 

 and lime, from which they extract honey. Other causes are 

 also ascribed to this disease ; in any general one, however, wri- 

 ters do not appear to be agreed. Mr. HuisJi, considers the dis- 

 ease incurable, although its prevention may be effected. As 

 fioon, therefore, says he, as I see any of my hives affected with 

 it, I give them a little of the following composition, which has 

 invariably checked the malady, when given in the early sta- 

 ges. 



iluZe.— To a quart of white wine, add a pint of honey, and 

 two pounds of loaf sugar ; put the whole into a tin sauce pan, 

 and let it boil gently over a slow fire, skimming it at different 

 times until it is reduced to the consistency of Syrup. Il may 

 then be bottled, and put into the cellar, and kept cool for use. 

 Whenever it is used, it must be genily heated, until it partakes 

 of the consistency of honey. Mr. lionconi, an Italian author 



