DISEASES OF BEES 235 



disease in the spring and summer of 1863. The writer 

 happened to be on a visit to him at this juncture, 

 and witnessed him withdrawing infected combs from 

 hives that were literally masses of corruption, the brood- 

 cells of which, on being opened with a pointed instru- 

 ment, revealed the dark brown slimy matter before 

 alluded to, and from which arose a most unpleasant 

 smell. Mr. Woodbury communicated to the Journal 

 of Horticulture, of July 21, 1863, an exact and graphic 

 account of his misfortunes, headed "A Dwindling- 

 Apiary." Finding that the removal of the putrid matter 

 must be simultaneously effected and the bees driven 

 out and placed in hives that had undergfone a complete 

 purification, Mr. Woodbury set about endeavouring to 

 accomplish his object, and was so far successfiil, that he 

 was able to fiimish an article to the before-named 

 jQiB-nal of August 4th, under the more cheerful title of 

 "Convalescent," in which he says: "First, let m& 

 indorse the opinions both of Dzierzon and Rothe, that, 

 except under very eq)ecial circumstances, it is unad- 

 visaUe to attempt the cure of a foul-breeding stock : 

 better, far better, to consign its inhabitants to the brim- 

 stone pit; the hive itself, if a straw one, to the flames; 

 the comb to the mdting pot; and appropriate the 

 honey to any purpose, except that of feedii^ bees." 



Mr. Woodbury further says : " Before starting, it was 

 requisite to insure the transfer of the bees to unpolluted 

 hives ; and here I found that Dziarzon declares that every 



