NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 223 



Bee Veil. If you are afraid of bees, you must use a 

 veil, made as follows : A piece of mosquito netting a yard 

 and one-quarter by three-quarters or five-eighths of a yard, 

 should be sewn together, with an elastic on one end to be 

 adjusted over the hat crown. At a suitable distance from 

 the bottom attach a narrow tape to tie about the neck. 



Diseases and Pests of Bees. Ot all the diseases 

 which attack bees Foul-brood is, perhaps, the most destruc- 

 tive. It is, unfortunately, rather prevalent in some parts of 

 the colony. For a long time it baffled bee-keepers, who 

 were at a loss to detect its real character, until the researches 

 of modern German investigators determined it to be the 

 result of fungoid growth, propagated by means of the spores, 

 or seed-vessels. 



Indication of Foul-brood. The disease only affects 

 the immature brood before it reaches the chrysalis state. 

 The cappings of the infected cells are found to be somewhat 

 sunken, with a small hole in the centre. By examining the 

 brood cells it will be easy to ascertain if any of the larvae be 

 dead and putrid. Healthy larvae are always white, until 

 sometime after they assume the chrysalis form ; hence, if 

 they are dark coloured, it indicates something wrong. 

 Where the malady has made much headway, the unpleasant 

 odour is simple evidence of its presence. 



Foul-brood was much more prevalent in America a few 

 years ago than it is now. The cause assigned for this is 

 that the disease itself falls a prey to other parasites; perhaps 

 one of the many which are known to infest hives. 



Remedy for Foul-brood. It is said that salicylic 

 acid, dissolved in alcohol, or in a solution of borax in water 

 one hundred and twenty grains of salicylic acid, the same 

 of soda borax, and sixteen ounces of distilled water. 

 This fluid is thrown in a fine spray over the combs, the 

 brood being previously uncapped. This is said to be harm- 

 less to the bees, but fatal to the fungi. The bees should be 

 driven into an empty hive box and kept for twenty-four 

 hours in a dark place, till they have consumed all the honey 

 they had with them ; as there is no doubt but that honey 



