218 DISEASED BEOOD. 



myriads, secreting the saccharine fluid in abundance. Tha 

 bges appropriated large quantities, and as a result, nine- 

 tenths became badly diseased. He suggested that our ev- 

 ergreens produced something of this kind. This is possible, 

 but not probable. Unless our evergreens are different 

 from others, or produce a different race of insects from 

 those j)roduced where the disease never is found, we shall 

 need to look farther for a solution. 



There is no jsoint connected with bee-keeping, on which 

 I have bestowed so much anxious thought, with such un- 

 satisfactory results. It is very difficult to detect the first 

 hundred or two larvae that die in a stock. But when nine- 

 tenths of the breeding-cells hold putrid larvae, there is but 

 little difficulty in making out a diagnosis. The bees are 

 few and inactive. When passing the hive, our olfactories 

 are saluted with nauseous effluvia, arising from this cor- 

 rupting mass. Now, if we wish, or expect to escape the 

 most severe penalty, our neglect must never allow this 

 stage of progress before such a stock is removed. There- 

 fore, we must watch symptoms, and ascertain the presence 

 of the disease at the earliest possible moment. 



As no part of the breeding season is exempt, the stocks 

 should be carefully observed during spring, and early part 

 of summer, with reference to increase of bees. "When any 

 are much behind others in this respect, make an examina- 

 tion immediately. The movable comb hive is readily ex- 

 amined by lifting out the combs, but the box-hive must be 

 inverted, and the bees smoked out of the way. 



EXAMINATION. 



Attention must be directed to the breeding-cells ; with 

 a sharp pointed knife, proceed to cut off the ends of some 

 tliat appear to be the oldest, bearing in mind that young 



