THOUSAND ANSWERS 97 



A. The unsealed larva, instead of being pearly white, as in a 

 state of health, is of a distinctly yellow tinge, becoming darker 

 as it dries, until very dark brown or black. 



Q. Tell us how to destroy European foulbrood without de- 

 stroying a lot of nice, straight combs. 



A. When I discovered European foulbrood in my apiary, I 

 melted up hundreds of beautiful worker-combs. If I had it to 

 do over again I would try to save them. I have been blamed for 

 encouraging anything of the kind, because in the hands of care- 

 less beekeepers there is danger that the disease may be spread 

 through the combs that are saved. But you'll promise to be very 

 careful, won't you, if I tell you how I would do — how I have done? 

 The first thing is to have the colony strong. Foulbrood is not 

 a great strengthener of colonies, and if it has proceeded to any 

 great extent you will need to strengthen the colony by giving 

 brood or young bees, or both, from healthy colonies, or by uniting 

 diseased colonies. But, remember, the colony must be strong. 

 The Alexander treatment requires the removal of the queen, and 

 then 20 days later the giving of a ripe queen-cell or a virgin just 

 hatched of best Italian stock. The bees do the rest. I think I 

 have had just as good success without leaving the colony so long 

 without a laying queen. So instead of waiting 20 days, give the 

 colony a cell or a virgin queen just as soon as it will accept it 

 after the removal of the queen. 



Sometimes you may find only a single bad cell, or perhaps 8 

 or 10. In that case it may not be necessary to do anything. A 

 week or two later you may find that the bees have cleaned out 

 all bad brood and left nothing but healthy brood in the hive. 

 But you may find the case worse than it was, although not yet a 

 very bad case. If the queen is vigorous, and the colony appears 

 prosperous, cage the queen and leave her in the hive. After a 

 certain period let the queen out of the cage, and if your bees do 

 as mine have done the disease will have disappeared in most 

 cases. I say after a certain period. I think a week is long 

 enough, but perhaps ten days is better. You notice that I also 

 say, "in most, cases." Because in more cases than I like the 

 disease has reappeared. But so it did in some cases when I 

 brushed the bees upon foundation and melted the combs. 



Q. Colonies have one, two or three cells of European foul- 

 brood, say first of June. If I kill the queen the last half of 

 clover flow and let these bees rear their own queen, will this cure 



