PEACOICAL BEE-KEEPIlf&. 



OHAPTBE XI. 



Diseases and Enemies. 



FOTJIi BROOD — SIGNS OP CAUSE OF — CUBE EEADICATIOK 



CHILLED BBOOD D7SENTEET ENEMIES WAX MOTH PEE- 



SEEVING COMBS BEAULA C;B0A WASPS — TOADS SNAILS AND 



MICE THE TOMTIT ^POWLS. 



Bees are subject to a disease at once terribly contagions and fatal, 

 called fonl brood. It effects the larrse, the adnlts suffering only on 

 aocotiut of the tainting of the atmosphere of the hive, by the putrescent 

 exhalations from the dead bodies of tie grubs. Many amongst tie 

 brood, if the outbreak be malignant, may be seen of an unhealthy 

 yellowish tone, instead of pearly white. Some of these die before seal- 

 ing, and since tieir remains appear too nauseous for the bees to remove, 

 they rot and dry at the lower side of the cell, until a shrivelled brownisi 

 scale alone remains. Tie caps covering the cells of tiose dead since seal- 

 ing, are sunken ratier than raised, and pierced by one or two holes of 

 various sizes. The sealing appears to be thinner than that over healthy 

 grubs. If the cover be taken off, a semi-fluid viscid mass is found, which 

 may be drawn into strings like half dry glue, while it emits the 

 same sickening odour which fills with minor intensity the whole 

 hive.* By the signs here given, this fell pest may be known ; but the 

 inexperienced must not mistake a cell, the sealing of which is unfinished, 

 or a honey cell opened that its contents may be consumed, for a punc- 

 tured foul-broody one. 



An account of some interesting experiments by Dr. Scionfeld, con- 

 clusively siowing tie cause of tie disease, and translated by an entiusi- 

 astio apiculturist, Mr. J. S. Wood, for the British Bee Jowmal requires 

 some notice, as the facts arrived at, point to the means to be adopted for 

 arresting the disease. It had before been known that foul-brood was in 

 some way connected with the presence of micrococcus (an extremely 



» TMs substance diluted with water, and placed under a thin cover, will show 

 with a good microscope, aji eighth objective, innumerable micrococcus germs. 



