DISEASED BROOD. 213 



remain during spring, was the cause." A few years after 

 another correspondent appeared in one of the papers, giv- 

 ing particulars of his experience, proving very conclusively 

 to himself, and many others, that it was to be attributed 

 to cold. Having mislaid the paper containing his article, 

 I will endeavor to quote correctly from memory. He had 

 "three swarms issue in one day; the weather during the 

 day changed from very hot to the other extreme, produc- 

 ing frost in many places the next morning. These swarms 

 had left but few bees in the old stocks, and the cold forced 

 them up among the combs for mutual warmth ; the brood 

 near the bottom, thus left without bees to protect it by 

 their animal heat, became chilled, and the consequence was 

 diseased larvse." He then reasoned thus, "if the eggs of 

 a fowl, at any time near the end of incubation, become 

 chilled from any cause, it stops all further developments. 

 Bees are developed by continued heat, on the same princi- 

 ple, and a chill produces the same effect. Afterwards, other 

 swarms issued under precisely similar circumstances ; but 

 these old stocks were covered with a blanket through the 

 might, which enabled the bees to keepat the bottom of the 

 hive. In a few days, enough were hatched to render this 

 trouble unnecessary. These last remained healthy." 



He further says, that " last spring was the first time I 

 ever knew them to become diseased before swarming had 

 thinned the population. The weather was remarkably 

 pleasant through April. The bees obtained great quanti- 

 ties of pollen and honey, and by this means, extended their 

 brood further than usual at this season. Subsequent chilly 

 weather in May, caused the bees to desert a portion of 

 brood, which was destroyed by the chill.'' 



This is reasoning from, cause to effect very consistently. 

 Had I no experience further than this, I should perhaps 

 rest satisfied as to the cause, and should endeavor to apply 

 the remedy. Several other articles have appeared in dif- 



