10 
dwindling, slowness in building up, and change in temper 
are frequently indicative of disease, but cannot be relied 
on as diagnostic symptoms. The only reliable and 
accurate diagnosis possible is the examination of a number 
of the foraging bees under the microscope, and this should 
be carried out by all modern apiarists from time to time. 
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER. 
As the critical period of the year as regards Acarine 
disease is during the winter months, when owing to lack 
of foraging, and the practical absence of brood production, 
the average age of the bees composing the colonies. 
becomes high, and infection, where present, spreads with 
extreme rapidity, it is necessary to prepare for this period 
some months in advance, and to ensure the absence of 
infection within the colony before the advent of winter. 
In order to carry out this programme efficiently, the 
treatment should commence immediately after the termina- 
tion of the honey flow of the district. 
Where increase is desired the stocks should be 
divided by artificial swarming, and collection of the adult 
bees with the old queen on the original stand. This colony 
is stimulated for brood production and when established 
is re-queened by a young and vigorous mated queen of 
the selected strain. ; 
The young bees on the new stand should be re- 
queened as soon as possible, by the introduction of a 
similar queen, and stimulated for brood production as 
before. Stimulation for the production of brood should 
continue in all cases until the first or second week in 
September, when rapid feeding should commence, in order 
to provide the stores necessary for the winter months. 
Where increase is not desired, the original stock 
should be re-queened if free from disease, but where infec- 
tion is found an artificial swarm should be made, and the 
adult bees collected on the old position utilised for the 
production of brood to be given to the main colony, which 
has been moved to the new position. In this case the old 
queen should be allowed to remain with the adult bees. 
