DYSENTERY 223 



fruit, by washing off the pollen at a critical period, but results 

 in the destruction of the honey-bees whose presence just at this 

 time is very essential to his success. So serious had this con- 

 dition become in some localities that laws have been passed to 

 prevent the spraying of fruit trees during the period of full 

 bloom. It would seem that any man who is sufficiently progres- 

 sive to spray his trees would realize the fact that he can get 

 better results in spraying immediately after the petals fall. 



Dysentery is usually caused by too long confinement or poor 

 stores. Under normal conditions the worker-bee voids her excre- 

 ment only when on the wing. When long periods of time elapse 

 during which they are unable to fly and thus relieve themselves 

 of the accumulated waste in the intestines, they are sometimes 

 compelled to discharge within the hive. When this condition is 

 reached they soon die, unless a change in the weather permits 

 them to get out and to clean up. Under such circumstances the 

 combs are badly soiled and the bees die amidst the filth. 



Honey-dew or other poor stores is quite likely to cause this 

 trouble. It is an important matter to see that the hives are 

 supplied with honey of the best quality for wintering, especially 

 in the North where the bees are confined for weeks or months 

 without flight. (See Chapter XIII.) 



Weak colonies are more susceptible to dysentery than strong 

 colonies, for the reason that a greater amount of food will neces- 

 sarily be consumed in order to keep up the heat, and the waste 

 is consequently greater. 



Prevention. — From the above it will be seen that- dysentery 

 is generally a winter disorder and that proper wintering insures 

 freedom from the trouble. While strong colonies, with good 

 stores and proper protection, seldom are seriously troubled, still 

 even they may have trouble under unfavorable conditions, or 

 during very long confinement. 



Remedy. — About the only remedy is a good flight on a warm 

 day. If the bees are beginning to show signs of this trouble in 

 the cellar in winter, and a warm day comes which will permit 



