JUNE 15, 1912 



861 



conditions that would seem to show to the 

 average layman at least that this bacillus 

 is responsible for the real European foul 

 brood. He has proved beyond any ques- 

 tion that the other bacilli mentioned, when 

 fed from pure cultures to healthy brood, 

 do not cause any disease, although they may 

 or may not be present. The Bacillus plu- 

 ton, however, is discovered at the very be- 

 ginning or the first symptoms of the dis- 

 ease, and continues clear on through. Later 

 on, as the disease develops. Bacillus alvei 

 and Streptococcus apis develop. Whether 

 they have a tendency to modify the form 

 of the disease is not quite clear; but from 

 all the evidence presented it would look as 

 if Dr. White had found the real cause of 

 European foul brood, although he does not 

 definitely claim it even yet. It has taken a 

 long time to do it; but it has been worth 

 while. 



Copies of this bulletin can be obtained by 

 applying to the Superintendent of Docu- 

 ments, Government Printing Office, Wash- 

 ington, D. C, enclosing five cents. Stamps 

 will not be accepted. 



THE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPOSITION 



OF IMPORTED HONEY FROM CUBA, 



MEXICO; AND HAITI. 



The foregoing is the title of Bulletin 

 154, from the Bureau of Chemistry, by A. 

 Hugh Br3'an, Chief of the Sugar Labora- 

 tory. It is well known that honeys vary 

 slightly, owing to different climatic condi- 

 tions in localities from wliich they are gath- 

 ered. As various honeys are being import- 

 ed into the United States, it is important 

 to know their exact chemical composition, 

 for comparison with certain other honeys 

 that might be imported, or which are al- 

 leged to be imported, but really are an 

 adulterated honey pretending to be what it 

 is not. The results of the examination of 

 honeys from Cuba, Mexico, and Haiti show 

 a "slightly greater moisture content and a 

 somewhat lower i^ercentage of sucrose." 

 Otherwise there is no pronounced differ- 

 ence. 



Further particulai'S can be secured by 

 applying for a copy of tliis h'l.Uetin to the 

 Superintendent of Documents, Washington. 

 It is not stated whether there is any charge 

 for this, but probably it is about five cents. 

 Do not send stamps, as the governmental 

 departments can not use them. 



THAT SECOND CARLOAD OF BEES FROM 

 FLORIDA. 



The second car arrived at Medina, with 

 our man in charge, June 1, in record-break- 

 ing time, being only five days from the time 



of starting fi'om Patrick's Landing, Flor- 

 ida, till it reached Medina, covering a dis- 

 tance of 100 miles by water and 1000 by 

 rail. As in the former case, Mr. Marchant 

 stayed with the bees in a cattle-car night 

 and day, for the bees required almost con- 

 stant attention. It was necessary to give 

 them water, and keep them sheltered from 

 the direct rays of the sun when at stops. The 

 previous shipment of bees took eight days: 

 this one just in, five days. This difference 

 is due, first, to a shorter route; and, second, 

 to a better knowledge of how to handle 

 railroad men. 



The second lot of bees did not come lo us 

 in quite as good order as the first, however. 

 The first carload was made np of 500 three- 

 frame nuclei. The second car contained 

 248 ten-frame colonies, screened top and 

 bottom. In some cases there was a quart 

 or more of dead bees on the bottom of the 

 screens, but in most cases practically none. 

 Both shipments proved beyond a question 

 the importance of having a man along with 

 the bees, and not only in the same train but 

 in the same car. When weather conditions 

 are fair, a man can travel with a fair de- 

 gree of comfort. The first carload of bees 

 started when the weather was extremely 

 hot, and landed here in a snowstorm with a 

 temperature nearly down to freezing. The 

 second shipment had extremely hot weath- 

 er all the way; and this, we think, accounts 

 in part for the larger loss of bees; for on 

 the previous shipment there were almost no 

 dead bees. 



Another lesson we have learned is the 

 importance of shipping bees (for .so great 

 a distance) in smaller packages. A full- 

 sized ten-frame colony will not stand a long 

 shipment as well as a fair-sized three-frame 

 nucleus. It sometimes happens that one 

 lot of bees are more nervous than another. 

 The larger the unit of shipment, the larger 

 will be the relative loss, for the reason that 

 a small lot of bees can not stir up a whole 

 colony. It was noticed that, with both 

 nuclei and full colonies, some of either 

 would be roaring as if in a terrible state of 

 excitement. Wetting them down would 

 aggravate the roar for a moment, when they 

 would quiet down. Excited bees always re- 

 quire more air; and it is such bees, like 

 nervous horses, that wear themselves out 

 long before they get to the end of their 

 journey-; hence the importance of a man 

 with a sprinkling can. 



Tliis carload of bees is now being distrib- 

 uted around at outyards. From present 

 indications tliey will gather enough honey 

 to })ay the freight; and possibly, if we 

 sliould have a good shower of Louey, their 

 entire cost. 



