144 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



[P. D. 4. 



colonies and trust to luck for the remainder. Even at so late a 

 date as approximately August 1, it was deemed advisable to 

 demonstrate that this apiary could be saved. Immediate steps 

 were taken. The condition of the apiary is tabulated as 

 follows : — 



Table 3. — History of Wilbraham Experimental Apiary. 



Date. 



Number of 



Colonies 



Diseased with 



European 



Foul Brood. 



July 26, 1915, 

 June 23, 1916, 

 July 27, 1916, 

 September 2, 1916, 



13 

 17 



12 



While it cannot be said that the apiary is yet entirely freed 

 from the disease, it being quite possible and probable that 

 there will be a recurrence of it in 1917, yet the apiary was pre- 

 served practically intact and made ready for winter. Combs 

 were not destroyed, as is usual in the shaking treatment; 

 moreover, some honey was taken after the direction of the 

 apiary was started, previous to which, however, little or no 

 honey had been obtained. The demonstration thus far is 

 largely suggestive, and can only be concluded after another 

 season's work. It is highly convincing, however, that it was 

 entirely unnecessary to sacrifice 17 colonies of bees, with the 

 probability that some. of the remaining 9 would later have had 

 to be sacrificed. In the short space of a very few weeks the 

 apiary which could have been appraised at only a low figure 

 was becoming of value. The direction of this apiary next 

 season should bring it into profitable condition. 



Winter Loss. 

 Through the records of the inspection work, a close estimate 

 of the percentage of mortality among colonies of bees is annu- 

 ally obtained. In the sixth annual report a statistical table was 

 presented. The figures for the past winter, 1915-16, are based 



1 Two weak colonies had been united for the purpose of controlling th infection. 



2 Suspicious, but not definite. 



