158 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



chiefly noticeable in the brood because the larval condi- 

 tion is more favourable for the growth of the bacillus. 

 Before using the hive again it should be well sand- 

 papered all over and carefully coated inside and out — 

 lid and bottom — with white lead and raw linseed oil. 

 Leave no spot unpainted. Before painting the author 

 uses a brazing-lamp for running over the inside of the 

 hive with a hot flame, but this is not essential. 



Now there are at times nice dry super-combs in a 

 diseased colony that have never contained brood, and 

 these should be fumigated with gaseous formaldehyde as 

 described for wax-moths, ants, etc. These should then 

 be given to the original colony. If there are only one or 

 two hives to be treated it would not pay to save the 

 honey with consequent possible contamination of the 

 extractor and honey -tanks, etc. In fact, if the hive is 

 old and dilapidated, better make a large fire of brush 

 wood and after shaking the bees, consign hive, frames 

 and combs to the flames. If the colony is very weak, burn 

 bees and all. It is impracticable to treat foul brood 

 successfully unless the colony is strong, the weather 

 warm, and honey abundant. When a whole apiary is 

 diseased, better call in an experienced bee-farmer for 

 advice. A professional apiarist would never permit the 

 entire yard to become diseased before taking steps to 

 eradicate the malady. Should the colonies have a large 

 amount of honey on hand (too much to waste) it should 

 be extracted, thinned with water and boiled for fifteen 

 minutes. Be very careful to scald and disinfect every- 

 thing in contact with the disease, and leave nothing 

 about for healthy colonies to rob. 



"BLACK BROOD." 

 (Bacillus Alvei). 

 There is another form of disease in some respects not 

 unlike the preceding one. The Americans call it "black 

 brood" or "European foul brood"; but this is not 

 accepted by British authorities who regard it as a stage 

 of "ropy foul brood." This form sometimes disappears 



