16 



noticed, which on the insertion of a splinter of wood will adhere to the 

 point, and can be drawn rope-like for some little distance out of the cells. 

 This is one of the most distinctive features of foul-brood, and where 

 present is generally considered conclusive of the disease. Later on this 

 glue-like substance dries up into the before-mentioned black scale-like 

 body. 



Other symptoms are " pin-holes " and ragged perforations in the 

 cappings of the cells, clearly shown in Plates III and IV, and a very 

 disagreeable smell resembling that of heated glue or tainted meat, which 

 can be sometimes detected at some yards away from a badly infected 

 hive, especially in close weather. The characteristic odour cannot easily 

 be detected in the earliest stages, even when an infected comb is placed 

 close to the nose, but some slight difference can be noticed between that 

 and healthy comb at all times. 



Treatment of Foul-brood. 



Treatment by drugs, so prominent at one time, has all but universally 

 been abandoned as useless. Mr. S. Simmins, a well-known English bee- 

 keeper and the author of "A Modern Bee-farm, ' still swears by the 

 Izal treatment, but after giving it a thorough trial at the Ruakura 

 Apiary in the season of 1906-7, my assistants reported that it utterly 

 failed to cure, but, like other well-known drugs, it seemed to check it a 

 little. Except for disinfecting hives and appliances, I do not recommend 

 the use of drugs in the apiary. 



The Starvation Cure. 



The so-called " starvation " method for treatment of foul-brood or 

 brood-diseases is now recognised as the most effective, and has been 

 universally adopted by leading beekeepers. Where the disease is so far 

 advanced as to have left few bees in the colony, then it will be safest to 

 destroy everything that has been in contact with it by fire : " tinkering " 

 with such a colony would be both useless and dangerous. 



Treatment may be successfully undertaken at any time when honey 

 is being freely stored. When going through the hives in spring make a 

 note of those showing signs of diseased combs (which are readily detected 

 at that time), for treatment later on, and be very careful that robbing is 

 nat started. When the honey season has set in, keeping the bees busy, 

 treatment should begin. All operations in this connection should be 

 carried out in the evening, when the bees are quiet. 



Prepare a clean hive and bottom board with narrow starters of comb- 

 foundation in the frames. Remove the infected hive and stand to one 

 side, and put the prepared one in its place, prop up the front about an 

 inch, lay a sack near the entrance, and shake and brush the bees as 

 quietly as possible close to the entrance, and when finished remove every 

 vestige of the infected hive away where bees cannot get at it. The combs, 

 if not too badly infected, may be melted into wax, or, if insufficient in 

 quantity for that purpose, they, with their frames, had better be burned 

 right away and the ashes buried. The hive, bottom board, and cover. 



