DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES. 219 



ligent inquiry to which we owe so many of our striking 

 improvements, has provided a remedy with which I have 

 no experience, but which I accept from good authority. ■ 



REMEDY. 



The remedy is Salicylic Acid, dissolved in alcohoi, 

 or in a solution of Borax in water. Mr. Muth'a 

 recipe, as I quote from " Cook's Manual," is, one hun- 

 dred and twenty-eight grains of Salicylic Acid, the same 

 of Soda Borax, and sixteen ounces of Distilled Water. 

 This fluid is thrown in a fine spray over the combs, the . 

 brood being previously uncapped. This is said to be 

 harmless to the bees but fatal to the fungi. The same 

 precautions are necessary as to the care of the honey, and 

 Hie confinement of the bees, as above stated. 



PARASITES. 



The statements of Prof. Packard, and other natural 

 ists, combined with my own observations, have led me to 

 favor the view that the original cause of this disease is a 

 parasite feeding upon the larvae, producing death and pu- 

 trefaction. The small holes in the caps of the infected 

 cells possess a significance in this connection. The re- 

 markable diminution of this scourge within the past few 

 years, is to be accounted for, I think, upon a similar 

 theory. It is consistent to suppose that among the 

 many various parasites that infest the bee-hive, there are 

 those which prey upon the destroyer of the larvae, and 

 thus destroy them in turn. Corroborative evidence of 

 this, is found in our experience with cabbage and currant 

 worms, potato bugs and other pests, which, after a few 

 seasons of unchecked devastation, are overtaken by their 

 parasitic enemies, and their ravages materially lessened. 



Those who have not given attention to the subject of 

 parasites, can hardly be aware of the number and variety of 



