141 



bees were examined on the 8th, and ingested spores were found in 

 their chyle stomachs. 



On the 7th forty-six bees were taken from the stock and their 

 alimentary canals pulped. Six smears were examined with the 

 object of determming the presence or absence of Nosema in the 

 stock. The result of the search was negative. 



On the 9th the Nosema infected lot numbering thirty bees was 

 placed on the frames of the main stock in an open cage. 



During May the stock continued normally, and on the ist of 

 June it covered six frames, and again on this date bees fed on 

 candy contammated with Nosema were introduced. At this time 

 the stock was doing very well, and on the 14th it was found 

 covering ten frames full. 



At this date several queen cells were seen and destroyed ; three 

 frames of brood and bees were removed for 1 ther experiments, and 

 two Irames of foundation were placed in the brood nest. Again on 

 the 29th queen cells were found and destroyed. The bees, 

 notwithstanding the loss of those removed a fortnight previously, 

 were covering 9J frames with brood in all stages on 8J frames. 



Examination of bees taken at the end of fune showed that a 

 Nosema infection was established in the stock. On the 4th July 

 the stock swarmed.^ On the 6th all the frames were gone over ; 

 fifteen queen cells were found and of these thirteen were destroyed. 

 On the 25th a queen was seen upon the frames and the bees active, 

 strong, v\ell, and drawing out foundation. During August the 

 weather was very wet, but the strength was well maintained, 

 and at the beginning of September the bees covered nine 

 frames. 



On the assumption that the Nosema infection had largely been 

 shed in swarming a third infection was made. 



On the 22nd September, and again on 2nd October, Nosema 

 spores were freely mixed with candy upon slides, and these were 

 placed within the entrance of the hive and upon the top of the 

 frames. The weather at this time was good and the bees were 

 active. During the whole period the stock has been under observa- 

 tion there has been no dysentery and no other signs of disease have 

 been observed. 



On the 22nd October bees were taken at random off" the frames 

 and were examined for the presence of Nosema. The following are 

 the results. — Six proved negative, one showed infection with intra- 

 cellular stages, and spores were found in three, two of which were 

 heavily infected. 



On the 29th October three flying bees were taken from this 

 stock at the entrance ; all contained spores, and one meronts also, 

 of Nosema. Four dead bees found in front of the hive all contained 

 spores. 



On the 3rd November two live bees were taken and spores 

 found in both. The stock appeared reduced in numbers, but there 

 were no signs of dysentery or other trouble. Nor were there 

 indications of Isle-of-Wight disease, such as crawling in front of 

 hive, clustering, or climbing on grasses, etc. 



> Unfortunately this swarm was lost. 



