416 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



which acted as a breeding place for the whole neighborhood. 

 Had the farmers known the nature of the pest, thej could 

 have easily saved much further infestation by merely de- 

 strojdng the old combs and hives as fast as the bees died. 



To-da}^ however, things have changed ; the ravages of 

 the moth are checked, so that in some States it is nearly 

 exterminated. This has been brought about mainly by the 

 improved hives, with movable frames, which enable every 

 part of the colony to be examined. Even with such facili- 

 ties, the common black or German bee, of which we will 

 speak later, requires constant attention. The hive must be 

 opened at least once in eight or ten days ; and whenever the 

 wax worms have gained a foothold, the caterpillars can be 

 traced in their galleries, and with a long pin or knife blade 

 can be cut out or killed. Even with this constant atten- 

 tion, infested black bees are frequently lost. From this it 

 may readily be seen how impossible the task of fighting wax 

 worms was 3^ears ago in the old box hives. 



An equally important move toward controlling the bee 

 moth was made when the United States Department of 

 Agriculture introduced Italian bees into this country. For- 

 tunately, these and some of the still more recently intro- 

 duced races do not tolerate the presence of a wax worm in 

 their combs. Wherever the bee moth exists, and we regret 

 to say that this probably includes all of Massachusetts, sim- 

 ply requeen with Italian or other moth-proof strain, and the 

 battle is won.* Hence, by the use of modern hives and 

 superior races of bees, the bee moth problem entirely dis- 

 appears as a difficulty. In reality, if this pest serves as a 

 means of improving methods and stock, it should be looked 

 upon as a blessing in disguise. 



Robbing. 

 This is a real and serious difficulty, to avoid which the 

 bee keeper should carry with him an ounce of prevention, 

 and use it all the time. As Mr. Root expresses it, "A 



* For the method of introducing new races or strains of hees in your apiary, 

 refer to some of the standard works on bee culture, under liead of " Introducing 

 queens." Many of these works were mentioned at the close of Professor Paige's 

 article. 



