59 



syrup to all colonies every evening for some time, and often was surprised 

 when I examined the combs to see how much syrup it took to feed all the 

 brood well when the bees were not bringing in any honey. My colonies 

 gave a much larger average yield of clover and basswood honey that season 

 than any that I have heard of." 



The following observations of the appearance of an affected comb were 

 made conjointly by the Inspector and a Bee-keeper. The case is a typical 

 one; in fact a few days later at another apiary belonging to an old-time 

 bee-keeper, who once had fought Foul Brood in California, the description 

 was found correct for a diseased comb in one of his colonies. 



On each side of the frame were found about 200 cells in which were 

 dead larvae, practically all of them being sealed over. They were scattered 

 fairly evenly over the whole frame. 



The cappings of the diseased cells were a trifle darker than the others, 

 probably due to the age of the cell, as those containing dead larvae of 

 more recent date were of the same color as the other cells. 



As a whole cappings of the diseased cells were convex, that is they 

 were curved upward just like healthy cells, but here and there one could 

 be found slightly sunken in the centre. 



Where perforated, the hole was very small, rarely over 1-32 of an 

 inch in diameter and usually in the centre. An occasional cell showed 

 a double perforation. In no case had the larvae dried down to a scale. 

 In fact, the Inspector cannot recall having found one instance where the 

 scale condition had been reached. 



One larvae that had died before being capped and had shrunken, was 

 skin whole and of yellowish gray color. Another of the same age had 

 shrivelled up to the nearly dry stage. It was black and had its head 

 turned up. It came out of the cell easily, and apparently was not ad- 

 hering. One not so far advanced in decomposition was a trifle yellow 

 on the abdomen and roped just a little. 



The color of those that died after being capped was usually of the 

 color of a wooden toothpick but a trifle darker, though a few were quite 

 black. All were skin whole and full of fluid, but broke when touched 

 with a toothpick. A healthy larva is markedly white when compared 

 with a toothpick. 



In ninety per cent, of the cases death occurred after the larva had 

 been capped. 



In one apiary when the ailment first appeared a young Italian Queen 

 was given to the affected colony but two months later the dead brood 

 was as plentiful as before. The weather conditions had not improved 

 any in the meantime. 



The lesson to be learned from the weather conditions that prevailed 

 on the Lower Fraser in the spring and summer of 1912 is very plain. 

 When rain prevents the bees flying for more than three days, the bee- 

 keeper must feed sugar syrup daily until flight is resumed. 



