DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 1C9 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES. 



A WORD now about the diseases and enemies of 

 bees — an important subject, for much will go wrong 

 if we are not careful to watch, and to be ready 

 with remedies and means of protection. And here 

 may be given a very old piece of advice, but none the 

 less useful because it is old, — that 'prevention is better 

 than cure.' And the best ' prevention ' possible is, in 

 the first place, not only care and watchfulness, but in 

 an especial manner, cleanliness. 



It is the same with the bees as with our own 

 houses and our own persons. To keep free from 

 disease, there must be cleanliness. It is well known 

 that some of the most frequent and fatal diseases, 

 which break out as epidemics, and carry off thousands 

 every year, come entirely from want of this care and 

 cleanliness, especially the want of pure water and 

 good drainage. Many diseases will, of course, come, 

 notwithstanding all care, but very often they are thus 

 preventible diseases, and may be kept at a distance 

 by the exercise of forethought and care. 



So with the bees. Due care and attention to 

 cleanliness, and watchfulness against all causes of 

 disease, and being ready, when disease first begins, to 

 ' nip it in the bud,' will do very much to keep our bees 

 healthy. 



I cannot now name all the diseases, but I may say 



