168 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 



we take our combs of foul brood and shave off the coverings 

 of the cells with a sharp knife so as to expose the honey, 

 pollen and germs of foul brood, if you put it in a boiler 

 of water and jounce it up and down, then put it in the ex- 

 tractor and whirl it like everything so as to throw out 

 everything that is dissolved by the water, and then fumi- 

 gate a long time, what will be the result?" His opinion was 

 that because formalin combined with the water it would 

 absolutely destroy everything in the comb that was in- 

 fectious. Now there is a point for these people that have 

 facilities like Mr. France and Mr. Smith, -^perhaps, to ex- 

 periment upon. It seems to be a new way of experimenting 

 with formalin gas. 



Mr. Dadant — You can't get water to the bottom of the 

 cells by dipoing it in water. 



Mr. Wheeler — I think that is proven every time you 

 fumigate a hive. From that gas that is generated there is a 

 steam, and there is nothing more penetrating than steam. 

 The combs, after they come out of the fumigation, will be 

 wet with steam. Surely the very bottom of the cells will 

 be saturated by steam from the formaldehyde gas. 



Mr. France — Anywhere over the States, since I have been 

 in this National position, the members have taken it as a 

 matter of fact that when they get into any trouble or 

 grievance no matter what it is, "fire" it into the General 

 Manager: and among other things they "fire" in samples 

 of foul brood from all over the States. I analyze them as 

 well as I possibly can, and give a report. But I want to 

 make this one statement : Whenever you are sending samples 

 of suspected material by mail, put it in something so that 

 it will stand the racket in the mail. So many of the packages 

 come all smashed up. I had one come the other day with a 

 piece of newspaper around it and a two-cent stamp on it, and 

 the whole thing was about as thick as a piece of cardboard 

 when it reached me. 



Dr. Miller — Put it in what? 



Mr. France — The best of all is a tin box next a wooden 

 box. And, by the wav. the United States mail people may 

 get after you if you don't. 



MAILING INFECTIOUS MATERIAL. 



"Would it not be a violation of the United States postal 

 law to send infectious diseases of any sort through the 

 mail?" 



Mr. Reynolds — I would say, as one working in the mails, 

 that it is. 



BEE-KEEPING FOR WOMEN. 



"Is bee-keeping a pleasant and profitable occupation for 

 woman ?" 



Pres. York — We have not heard much from the wconen, 

 it seems to me ; I think we had better hear from Mrs. Stow, 



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