312 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



and in the former case it is not capped 

 at all. 



As soon as the larva is dead, perhaps 

 before, it loses its natural glistening 

 pearly whiteness. 



The capping of cells containing the 

 dead larvte have an unnatural appear- 

 ance, — they are generally more or less 

 sunken, sometimes perforated, and often 

 darker in appearance than is natural. 



By fall, if the colony is still strong, 

 such cappings are all, or nearly all, re- 

 moved. 



After some time, at least by late fall, 

 the dead larvaj becomes dried down to a 

 thin, dark-brown scale attached to the 

 lower side and extending almost to the 

 entrance of the cell. They are then al- 

 most imperceptible except to the exper- 

 ienced eye when held in a favorable light. 



When the disease has made consider- 

 able progi-ess it is attended by an ex- 

 tremely unpleasant odor which may be 

 preceived by holding the nose to the 

 comb affected; sometimes it may be felt 

 even when the cover is raised in opening 

 the hive. 



After the disease has obtained a firm 

 foot-hold the strength of the colony 

 gradually declines and a suspicious and 

 increasing listlessness is shown in its 

 efforts to collect pollen and nectar, until, 

 at length, unless the apiarist interferes, 

 it becomes the prey of robber bees, and 

 the disease is widely disseminated. 



The time required for the destruction 

 of a colony varies from one to three or 

 more years, owing to the amount of in- 

 fection and to the virulence of the dis- 

 ease in the particular case. 



The disease seems gradually to wear 

 itself out, if I may use that expression. 

 Seven years ago in some cases in three 

 weeks from infection nearly one-half the 

 brood was dead ; during the past season 

 in two colonies which each showed sev- 

 eral cells in May, not a single cell could 

 be found in September. 



METHODS OF ERADICATING THE DISEASE. 



So far I have set forth the signs by 

 which the disease is known, almost in 

 mere outline indeed, but sufficiently, I 

 think, so that any intelligent person 

 using care and attention cannot go 

 astray; and now it remains only in the 

 same brief way to explain the methods 

 which have been discovered by which 

 the disease may be banished from the 

 apiary, but first let me warn every one 

 except as an experiment, and at his own 

 risk, not to place any reliance for a cure 

 upon any of the drugs which have been 

 recommended for the purpose. I have 

 tried phenol or carbolic acid and salycilic 



acid in numerous cases, but in no single 

 instance did it appear that even the first 

 step was made toward effecting a cure. 

 There is a heroic method recommended 

 by some and that is the destruction of 

 hive, combs and bees by fire. I have 

 never tried it but no doubt it would be 

 effectual so far as the individual colony 

 is concerned, but whether it would be as 

 to healthy neighboring colonies would 

 depend on whether it were properly done, 

 and whether it wore properly done or 

 not would depend on whether any of the 

 bees were allowed to escape — if they 

 were, the disease would probably be 

 spread rather than circumscribed. The 

 process is evidently one requiring ex- 

 treme care and only to be recommended 

 to one who is sure of his plans. 



In the method which I recommend and 

 which I have thoroughly tested in a liun- 

 dred cases or more, without a single fail- 

 ure, so far as I know, one must be pre- 

 pared to disinfect the hive and all its 

 belongings, except of course the bees, by 

 a thorough boiling. My rule is to boil 

 each part fifteen minutes. The combs 

 are of course destroyed but the wax is 

 saved. 



Having provided as many hives as 

 there are colonies to be operated on — the 

 hives to be furnished with frames, either 

 filled with foundation or with starters of 

 foundation — combs will not do at all — 

 proceed as follows: 



Select a time when some nectar is 

 being gathered and an hour of the day 

 when the bees are not flying, then move 

 the first colony a little to one side and 

 place the new hive, which should be like 

 the old in outward appearance as nearly 

 as possible, upon the spot where the 

 other stood, then as rapidly as possible 

 take the combs from the colony and 

 shake or brush all the bees upon the 

 ground in front of the new hive, of which 

 they will at once take possession, and 

 then remove the combs and hive to a 

 place of safety, to be disinfected, being 

 careful not to break the comb so as to 

 let any honey get upon the ground or 

 elsewhere for other bees to gather up. 

 In like manner treat the other colonies, 

 but if any of the combs contain brood 

 which it is desirable to save, they may 

 be given to one or more of the infected 

 colonies which are then to be removed 

 for treatment as soon as the brood is 

 hatched. This course will insure a cure. 

 If the bees were given a hive contain- 

 ing comb they would be sure to carry 

 the disease with them. 



During the past season I treated two 

 colonies as an experiment, when there 

 were no flowers from which to gather 



