THOUSAND ANSWERS 17 



seems to be old bees. They turn black, and are driven out. The 

 brood seems to b.e all right. I had one colony affected the same 

 way last year that became all right. I would like to know the 

 cause and cure, if any. I have over 100 colonies, but never saw 

 anything like it before. 



A. The probability is that it is a case of bee-paralysis. The 

 bees are black and shiny from losing their plumage. They come 

 out of the hive and jump around on the ground, generally with 

 bodies somewhat distended, and there is a peculiar trembling mo- 

 tion of the wings. The sound bees appear to pester and drive 

 the sick ones. As far north as you are, it is doubtful if you need 

 pay any attention to it. I've had several cases of the disease, and 

 never did anything for it and the disease disappeared of itself. 

 Far enough south it becomes a terror, and although many cures 

 have been offered they generally fail to effect a cure. O. O. Pop- 

 pleton says he cures by sprinkling sulphur over the bees and 

 comb. Texas beekeepers of late claim that excessive dampness 

 in the hive is the prime cause. They practice shaking the bees 

 onto perfectly dry combs in a dry hive. 



Q .Will camphor prevent bee-paralysis if I put a small piece 

 in the hive? 



A. It will probably have no effect whatever. 



Bees, Best Strain. — Q. What is the best bee for this country, 

 the Buckeye strain, 3-banded, golden Italian or leather colored? 



A. There are good bees of almost all kinds; the majority of 

 beekeepers probably prefer the 3-barided leather colored Italians. 



Bees Dying. — Q. What ails my bees? Quite a number of them 

 are dead or dying. One day when the snow was on the ground I 

 saw dead bees on the snow. While I was there a bee came flying 

 out of the hive, lit on the snow and was frozen; it was zero 

 weather. I have a box set oveir the hive; the front side is open. 

 They are not packed. The entrance of the hive is wide open, and 

 they have plenty of honey to winter on, with nothing to disturb 

 them. They are Italian bees. 



A. There may be nothing wrong at all; depends upon what 

 is meant by "quite a number." In a strong colony it is nothing 

 strange if a thousand bees die off in the course of the winter; 

 and when the sun is shining upon the white snow it is not alarm- 

 ing to see a bee fly out to meet its death in the snow. 



Q. What is the cause of a colony of bees dying in the winter 

 with plenty of honey in the hive? It seemed to be in good shape 

 when it went into winter quarters. 



A. It may be that the cluster of bees was in the center with 



