Bee Diseases and Enemies 407 



poured on the sides and on some straw or excelsior placed 

 at the bottom of the pile. This is then ignited and after 

 burning for a few seconds a close-fitting hive cover is placed 

 on top of the pile to extinguish the flames. The inside of 

 the hive-bodies should be charred to a light brown. The 

 careful cleaning and disinfection of frames always costs con- 

 siderably more in labor than now frames would cost, but these 

 also may be carefully cleaned and used again. Frames may 

 be cleaned by boiling in water for about half an hour, but 

 this frequently causes them to warp badly. The disinfection 

 of hives and frames with chemicals is not recommended. 



If there is a considerable quantity of honey in the con- 

 taminated combs it may be extracted. This honey is not 

 safe to feed to bees without boiling, but it is absolutely safe 

 for human consumption. If there is a comparatively small 

 quantity it may be consumed in the beekeeper's family, 

 care being taken that none of it is placed so that the bees 

 can ever get it. 



To put such honey on the market is contrary to law in 

 some states. There is always danger that an emptied re- 

 ceptacle will be thrown out where bees can have access to it, 

 thus causing a new outbreak of disease. It can be safely 

 used for feeding to bees in summer, provided it is diluted 

 with at least an equal volume of water to prevent burning 

 and boiled in a closed vessel for not less than one-half hour, 

 counting from the time that the diluted honey first boils 

 vigorously. The honey will not be sterilized if it is heated 

 in a vessel set inside of another containing water. Boiled 

 honey should not be sold as honey. It is good only as a 

 food for bees and even then should never be used for winter 

 stores, as it would probably cause dysentery. 



Some beekeepers prefer to shake the bees first on to frames 

 containing strips of foundation as above described and in 

 four days to shake the colony a second time on to full sheets 

 of foundation, destroying all comb built after the first treat- 

 ment. This insures better combs than the use of strips of 

 foundation, but it is a severe drain on the strength of the 



