140 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



This phenomenon or disease was first observed in late May, 

 only a few bees of a colony showing symptoms. Colonies which 

 were under close observation for some weeks by Mr. Bocock 

 and the writer had no appreciable mortality until about June 

 24 to 25, when all of a sudden the grass around the hives and 

 for 50 feet or more was noticeably strewn with bees, creeping, 

 crawling and hopping in all directions. The bees accumulated 

 each day, commencing about 9 or 10 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing- and dispersing after 3 in the afternoon. This continued for 

 about a week or a little longer, when the colonies regained ap- 

 parent normal flight. Close observation, however, for some 

 weeks showed that the peculiar symptoms persisted in a few 

 individual bees. It was thought that perhaps there was undue 

 mortality in certain hives for a week or so after colonies be- 

 came confined by cold days in November, but before winter 

 conditions prevailed. These observations were made through- 

 out the period in several apiaries of varying sizes, from 60 to 

 50 colonies. 



Beekeepers should not yet be alarmed over these symptoms. 

 Some large apiarists say they have .seen the trouble before; 

 that it appeared one year and did not the next. Its progress 

 should be watched, however, and reports made of the findings. 

 Undoubtedly the heavy mortality just prior to New England 

 honey flow cannot but have its detrimental influence on the 

 crop, for inevitably it would seem to cut down the foragers. 

 Whether there will be further disaster, in winter, for instance, 

 as is intimated elsewhere, and which characterizes the English 

 disorder, is yet to be experienced. For the present, however, 

 beekeepers must be patient until further experiments and ob- 

 servations can be made. 



Spray Poison. 

 While not strictly a disease of adult bees, the alleged mor- 

 tality of bees from injudicious or careless spraying, summarized 

 in the last annual report of the Inspector of Apiaries, has still 

 been under observation. In the current year, however, the season 

 during the heavy spraying period was unfavorable to the work. 

 Moreover, the periods of rain and cloudiness, as well as cold, 

 kept bees housed. Whether these causes are accountable for 



