J^ T 



42 



NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE 



and it is sufficient to call their atten- 

 tion to the disease to secure their help 

 in eradicating it, but nothing must be 

 left to chance. 



On the other hand, there are many 

 instances where mild diseases are mis- 

 taken for the contagious disease. I 

 have myself, in several instances, com- 

 forted bee-keepers who imagined that 

 their bees were suffering from foul 

 brood, by an examination, wliioh re- 

 vealed that the trouble was due 

 either to chilled brood, or winter 

 losses. 



It is, therefore, of the utmost im- 

 portance that a good, experienced man 

 should at once take the place of our 

 late inspector, and that the bee-keepers 

 of Illinois should unite in giving him 

 ardent support, so that those who may 

 call upon him for help in curing any 

 infected colonies may be readily re- 

 lieved, at the least possible expense, 

 and with the least possible loss. There 

 was a time when apiarists thought 

 that nothing short of destruction of 

 the diseas'ed colonies would secure re- 

 sults. This' has long ago been proven 

 an error. But great care is needed. 

 The disease does not exist in many 

 places. Active work will sooner or 

 later put an end to it. 



Let usi, theni, unite, both in demand- 

 ing from our Legislature some practical 

 foul brood law, and in selecting a good, 

 efficient foul brood inspector, who will 

 receive our undivided support. 



C. P. DADANT. 



Mr. Bowen — If I mistake not, there 

 are quite a number of men present 

 who are candidates for foul brood in- 

 spector, and this may be a good chance 

 for them to show their ability before 

 the convention, by expressing them- 

 selves. I don't know a better opening 

 for them than right here and now. I 

 would like to hear from each of them. 

 I understand they are all in favor, ex- 

 cept mj^self, of being appointed in- 

 spector. 



Mr. Coppin — A few instructions 

 should be given to bee-keepers. One 

 thing is in the case of bees dying. A 

 bee-keeper should be instructed not to 

 save the combs, under such conditions, 

 and use them over again. I think that 

 is where foul brood is spread a num- 

 ber of times. If the bees have already 

 die,d with the disease, and he doesn't 

 know it, the bee-keeper simply goes 



and puts bees on the same combs, in- 

 stead of melting them down. 



Mr. Moore — I hav6 acted as deputy 

 inspector, and, as I have been in- 

 formed, quite a number of other bee- 

 keepers here have acted as deputies, 

 and they are all for the office of in- 

 spector. Now I have had a little ex- 

 perience with foul brood myself, in, 

 my own apiary, and have had a little 

 work, and some experience with it in 

 inspecting other apiaries. I always ad- 

 vise a man who has foul brood to de- 

 stroy the combs; never to save any 

 combs. ' 



If I should get foul brood in my 

 apiary, I should practice the "shook" 

 plan, destroying all the combs, and in 

 that way manage to keep it under 

 control. I never advise anybody to 

 burn hives or frames, because they can 

 be saved; but combs you can destroy 

 and render them into wax and get your 

 money out of them. It is a very simple 

 matter to save your hives. 



Although we have lots of evidence 

 from those who put their bees in the 

 hives, without taking any precaution, 

 and have had no return of the disease, 

 yet we do have evidence in many other 

 cases where the disease has returned, 

 and, with little trouble and expense, it 

 is better to take that precaution. The 

 hive covers and bottoms can be dis- 

 infected with a very few cents expense, 

 and very little trouble. The frames (if 

 enough of them to amount to much, 

 after cutting out the combs) can be 

 boiled in lye water, and they are made 

 safe to use again. If there are only a 

 hive or two the frames could be burned 

 up, but I never advise, in my inspec- 

 tion work, to destroy anything we can 

 possibly save; and so far as this plea 

 that has been brought up, I don't be- 

 lieve there is a man in the State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association who would accept 

 this office of inspector, who would 

 force a man, or advise him, to bum 

 his hives to make business for some 

 dealer. 



I w^ouldt not advise my own custom- 

 ers to burn anything, and I don't be- 

 lieve there are any dealers in bee- 

 keepers' supplies that would urge a 

 bill of that sort, to benetit themselves. 

 I have had considerable dealings with 

 a good many and have found them 

 honest, and I don't believe there is one 

 who would advise anything of that 

 sort. 



Mr. Bowen — Don't you believe boil- 



