§ IX.J DISEASES OF BEES. 3oy 



character— in other words, " has got ahead," through 

 " not being nipped in the bud " — it will be well to take 

 notice of another quotation from Mr. Langstroth's book : 

 " In the spring or summer, when the weather is fine and 

 pasturage abounds, the following cure is recommended 

 by a German apiarian : ' Drive out the bees into any 

 clean hive, and shut them up in a dark place without 

 food for twenty-four hours ; prepare for them a clean 

 hive, properly fitted up with comb from healthy colonies; 

 transfer the bees into it, and confine them two days 

 longer, feeding them with pure honey.' " 



The late Mr. Woodbury's apiary was severely attacked 

 by this 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 yournal 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 undergone a complete 

 purification, he set about endeavouring to accomplish 

 his object, and was so far successful that he was able to 

 furnish an article to the before-named journal of August 



