CHAPTER XII. 



THE DISEASES OF BEES. 



Dysentery. 



Dysentkry is caused by one of two thiiip^s — either the bees 

 have been fed too late in the autumn, or else they have been 

 confined to their hives for a very long time in the winter, owing 

 to the cold ; thus they are prevented from taking a cleansing 

 flight, and are obliged to void their excrement within their 

 hives : a strong stock, though confined to its hive for a very 

 prolonged period by the cold, is hardly ever attacked by this 

 malady, while weak colonies are very liable to it ; therefore, 

 before winter sets in, be sure that all the stocks in the apiary 

 are strong, and unite any weak ones. 



The signs of dysentery are quite unmistakable — the hive and 

 combs are much messed by the brown excrement of the bees, the 

 bars of the frames, the inside walls and the alighting-board, etc., 

 being similarly soiled : the excrement emits a strong, peculiar 

 and disagreeable odour. Whatever the cause of the disease, 

 the cure is the same ; on the first fine, warm day, when the 

 bees are flying in good numbers, they must be transferred to a 

 new, clean hive, provided with fresh frames of sealed stores. It 

 is very important to supply the bees with new combs, and this 

 should always be done if it is in any way possible ; but if not, 

 the bars of the old frames must be scraped clean, and those 

 combs which are the least soiled chosen for placing in the new 

 hive. 



When dysentery attacks a stock in winter, there is not so 

 much chance for it as there is when the disease does not make 

 its appearance till spring ; in the latter case the new combs 

 on to which the bees are to be transferred need contain but 

 very little honey, as the bees can be fed at once with warm 



