CHAPTER XII 
DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES 
As a country grows older new vicissitudes beset almost any 
line of business, and bee-keeping is no exception. In many sec- 
tions of the United States brood diseases have not as yet appeared, 
and in many others the bee-keepers are having their first experi- 
ence in combating them. Ilowever, it is only a matter of time 
until bee-keepers can expect to be compelled to deal with foul 
brood no matter where they live. It accordingly will pay the 
business bee-keeper to inform himself as fully as possible con- 
cerning bee diseases, even though there be none at present in 
his vicinity. 
Expert beekeepers are frequently all but ruined by the 
appearance of foul brood in their apiaries. With a thorough 
knowledge of the accepted methods of dealing with disease the 
experience need not be so costly, for by prompt action the danger 
ean be largely avoided. 
The census of 1901 showed a decrease of 16.1 per cent of 
the total number of colonies of bees in the United States as a 
whole. The wide-spread presence of disease is no doubt largely 
responsible for this condition. With an increasing population 
and a decreasing number of bee-keepers, it would look as if the 
business of honey production should offer a good field of opera- 
tions. While the small bee-keepers with a few colonies on the 
farms are rapidly Leing removed, specialists are increasing in 
number. This is as it should be, for to-day is the great age of 
specialists and the business which is not worthy of development 
as a specialty offers little inducement to the active man. 
While there are still many puzzling things that manifest 
themselves in connection with foul brood, the essentials neces- 
sary to the control of either form are pretty well understood and 
practical men who are on their guard find it possible to withstand 
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