DISEASED BROOD. 278 



spreading, whether we have its origin or not. "We will 

 now see if we can trace it through, if there is any con- 

 sistency in its transfer from one stock to another. 



CAUSE OF ITS SPREADING. 



Suppose one stock has caught the infection, but a 

 small portion of the brood is dead. In theheatof the 

 hive, it soon becomes putrid; other cells adjoining 

 with larvEe of the right age are soon in the same con- 

 dition. AH the breeding combs in the hive become 

 one putrid mass, with an exception, perhaps, of one in 

 ten, twenty or a hundred, that may perfect a bee. 

 Thus the increase of bees is not enough to replace the 

 old ones "that are continually dying off. It is plain, 

 therefore, that this stock must soon dwindle down to 

 a very small, family. Now let a scarcity of honey oc- 

 cur in the fields, this poor stock cannot be properly 

 guarded, and is easily plundered of its contents by 

 the others. Honey is taken that is in close proximity 

 to dead bodies, corrupting by thousands, creating a 

 pestilential vapor, of which it has probably absorbed 

 a portion. The seeds of destruction are by this means 

 carried into healthy stocks.. In a siSbrt time, these in 

 turn fall victims to the scourge ; and soOn dwindle 

 away, when' some other strong stock is able to carry 

 oS their stores; and only stop, perhaps, at the last 

 stock ! The moth is ever ready with her burden of 

 eggs, which she now without hindrance deposits di- 

 rectly on the combs. In a short time the worms finish 

 up the whole business, and are judged guilty of the 

 12* ■ . :'.■: 



