Elements of Beekeeping 17 



also placed side by side. These cases may be constructed so 

 that they can be taken apart and stored away to use again. 



The packing should not be removed until after the last 

 killing frost in the spring, or until it becomes necessary to 

 handle the combs. 



Young Bees. It is very important to have a vigorous queen 

 so that brood-rearing can continue in the fall, in order to have 

 a strong colony of young bees. With an old queen and where 

 brood rearing has ceased long before fall, the colony will con- 

 sist of old bees which die out rapidly before spring. 



Diseases 



The diseases which attack the colony and cause great loss 

 to the beekeeper are the American foul-brood and European 

 foul-brood. These are bacterial in nature and destroy the brood, 

 while the adults are not affected. These diseases may be carried 

 from one hive to another either by the adult worker bees or by 

 the operator, in honey or in combs transferred from one hive 

 to another. 



American Foul-Brood. This disease affects both larvae and 

 pupae in open and capped cells. The capping of the cells con- 

 taining the diseased larvae and pupae becomes sunken and per- 

 forated. The color turns yellow, later brownish and the odor 

 becomes very offensive, resembling cooking glue. A ropy condi- 

 tion of the larvae is often the chief characteristic used by bee- 

 keepers in diagnosing the disease. The disease may be eradi- 

 cated by shaking the affected colony into clean hives containing 

 frames with narrow strips of foundation. Destroy diseased 

 combs, frames and honey by burning. Sprinkle the inside of the 

 hive body with kerosene, light it and let burn a few minutes 

 until the wood begins to char ; then smother the flames. 



European Foul-Brood. The European foul-brood is more 

 noticeable in the spring and early summer and is usually pres- 

 ent in weak colonies. The dead larvae are scattered; a small 

 percentage die after capping; the sunken and perforated cap- 

 pings are less evident; the odor is not as offensive as in Amer- 



