210 DISEASED BKOOD. 



CHAPTER XIV, 



DISEASED BROOD. 

 WHAT IS IT ? 



I find since writing the original chapter on this subject, 

 that hee-keepers are much more familiar with it than I 

 supposed. Mr. Langstroth in his work gave a fair descrip- 

 tion, terming it " foul brood," but knew nothing of it from 

 his own experience. Mr. S. Wagner, of York, Pa., has 

 found much on the subject in the German Bee Journals. 

 He has kindly sent me translations of some articles con- 

 tributed by Dzierzon, the great German apiarian. I find 

 but little that is not identical with the experience concern- 

 ing it in this country. In its first appearance in Dzierzon's 

 apiary it was much more disastrous than I ever knew it to 

 be, and it came near sweeping away his whole apiary. 

 Afterwards, when better acquainted with it, he was more 

 succcessful in his management. 



ITALIANS LESS AFFECTED. 



It would be interesting to learn how he succeeds, since 

 he has introduced the Italians. Since their introduction 

 into my apiaries, the number affected with this disease has 

 diminished five-sixths. Whether this is to be attributed 

 to them I cannot say, but I am inclined to give them some 

 credit for it. 



This disease is probably of recent origin in this country 

 Mr. Weeks said in a newspaper article some years ago, 

 " since the potato rot commenced, I have lost one-fourth 

 of my bees annually by this disease," and adds his fears, 

 " that this race of insects will become extinct from this 

 cause, if not arrested." 



