84 BEES FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT. 



hand. We now come to the way in which formic acid is 

 used : the best method is to pour it into one side of a clean, 

 empty comb, which should be placed at the back of the hive, 

 as far away from the entrance as possible ; the acid then by 

 evaporation diffuses itself throughout the hive, destroying the 

 germs of disease. The above is abridged from Mr. Sproule's 

 directions in the British Bee Journal for October 2nd, 1890 

 (which also appeared in Gleanin<js). 



Mr. Cowan's method of using formic acid in cases of foul 

 brood, in its early stages, is as follows : — A piece of flannel or 

 sponge should be tacked on to the back of the division board 

 and kept saturated with a solution of formalin composed of 

 1 oz. of commercial 40 per cent, formalin to each 3 ozs. of 

 water. 



Naphthol Beta. 



Naphthol beta has now been used for foul brood a con- 

 siderable time ; and during this period it has proved highly 

 satisfactory, and very excellent results have been obtained by 

 its use. It is a white crystalline powder, possesses very little 

 smell, and, though insoluble in cold water, it dissolves readily 

 in alcohol ; when dissolved in this, it should be added to the 

 syrup while the latter is still hot, and it will then remain in 

 solution. But it must not be put into the syrup while the 

 latter is boilirig. 



To medicate 18 lbs. of sugar, made into syrup, ^ oz. 

 naphthol beta is required, while \ oz. (avoirdupois) will 

 medicate 36 lbs., and ^ oz. is required for 72 lbs. Just 

 enough alcohol (rectified spirits of wine) should be added to 

 dissolve the naphthol beta, and the two must be shaken up 

 together ; when all the naphthol is dissolved, no more alcohol 

 should be put with it. Candy may be treated in a similar 

 manner, the same amount of naphthol being added to the same 

 quantity of sugar used in making the candy. 



Medicated Syrup for Diseased Bees. 



In feeding bees with syrup medicated by one or other of 

 the foregoing methods, except when feeding in late autumn, 

 the syrup should be thin — i.e., it should be made with 3 lbs. 

 of sugar to each quart of water, because the nurse bees will 

 then be more inclined to feed the young brood (larv?e) with 



