THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW, 



35 



perforated and often darker in appearance 

 than is natural. 



By fall, if the colony is still strong, such 

 cappings are all or nearly all removed. 



After some t me, at least by late fall, the 

 dead larvis becomes dried cowu to a thin 

 dark brown scale attached to the lower side 

 and extending almost to the entrance of the 

 cell. They are then almost imperceptible 

 except to the experienced eye when held in a 

 favorable light. 



When the disease has made considerable 

 progress it is attended by an extremely un- 

 pleasant odor which may be perceived by 

 holding the nose to the comb affected ; 

 sometimes it may be felt even when the 

 cover is raise J in opening the hive. 



After the disease has obtained a firm foot- 

 hold the strength of the colony gradually de- 

 clines and a suspicious and increasing list- 

 lessness is shown in its efforts to collect pol- 

 len and nectar, until, at length, unless the 

 apiarist interferes, it becomes the prey of 

 robber bees and the disease is widely dis- 

 seminated. 



The time required for the destruction of a 

 colony varies from one to three or more 

 years owing to the amount of infection and 

 to the virulence of the disease in the particu- 

 lar case. 



The disease seems gradually to wear itself 

 out, if I may use that expression. Seven 

 years ago in some cases in three weeks from 

 infection nearly one-half the brood was dead, 

 during the past season in two colonies which 

 each showed severa' cells in May, not a sin- 

 gle cell could be found in September. 



So far I have set forth the signs by which 

 the diseass is known almost in mere outline 

 indeed, but sufficiently, J think, so that any 

 intelligent person using care and attention 

 cannot go astray ; and no \ it remains only 

 in the same brief way to explain the methods 

 which have been discovered by which the 

 disease may be banished from the apiary, 

 but first let me warn every one except as an 

 experiment, and at his own risk, not to place 

 auy reliance for a cure upon any of the drugs 

 which have been recommended for the pur- 

 pose. I have tried phenol or carbolic acid 

 and salycilic acid in numerous cases, but in 

 no single i ^stance did it appear that even 

 the first step was made toward efifec'ing a 

 cure. 



There is a heroic method recommended by 

 some and that is the destruction of hive, 

 combs and bees by tire. I have never tried 



it but no doubt it would be effectual so far 

 as the individual hive is concerned, but 

 whether it would be as to healthy neighbor- 

 ing hives would depend on whether it were 

 properly done, and whether it were properly 

 done or not would depend on whether any of 

 the bees were allowed to escape — if they were 

 the disease would probably be spread rather 

 than circumscribed. The process is evident- 

 ly one requiring extreme care and only to be 

 recommended to one who is sure of his 

 plans. 



In the method which I recommend and 

 which I have thoroughly tested in a hundred 

 cases or more without a single failure so far 

 as I know one must be prepared to disinfect 

 the hive and all its belo gings, except of 

 course the bees, by a thorough boiling. My 

 rule is to boil each part tifteeu minutes. 

 The combs ar J of course destroyed but the 

 wax is saved. 



Having provided as many hives as there 

 are colonies to be operated on — the hives to 

 be furnished with frames either filled with 

 foundation or with starters of foundation — 

 combs will not do at all— proceed as fol- 

 lows : 



Select a time when some nectar is being 

 gathered and an hour of the day when the 

 bees are not flying, then move the first col- 

 ony a little to one side and place the new 

 hive, which should be like the old in outward 

 appearance as nearly as possible, upon the 

 spot where the other stood, then as rapidly 

 as possible take the cjmbs from the colony 

 and shake or brush all the bees upon the 

 ground in front of the new hive of which 

 they will at once take possession and then re- 

 move the combs and hive to a place of safety 

 to be disinfected, being careful not to break 

 the comb so as to let any honey get upon the 

 ground or elsewhere for other bees to gather 

 up. In like manner treat the other colonies, 

 but if any of the combs contain brood which 

 it is desirable to save they may be given to 

 one or more of the infected colonies which 

 are then to be removed for treatment as soon 

 as the brood is hatched. This course will in- 

 sure a cure. 



If the bees were given a hive containing 

 comb they would be sure to carry the disease 

 with them. 



During the past season I treated two col- 

 onies as an expe iment when there were no 

 flowers from which to gather nectar and by 

 carefully feeding the a for two weeks just 

 sufficient to keep them from starving, they 



