220 



DISEASED BROOD. 



every stock should he thoroughly inspected^ and all diseased 

 ones condemned for stock hives. Even if it should take the 

 last one, it would pay to procure healthy ones instead. 

 Persons wishing to eat the honey from such hives, will ex- 

 perience no bad effects from it, if they are careful to re- 

 move the brood combs, as they take it out of the hive. 



Careless bee-keepers, when their hives are robbed, feel 

 regret, or are more often vexed with some one, at the re- 

 sult of their own carelessness. The real cause of com- 

 plaint more often belongs to the owners of the robbing 

 bees, as the honey obtained in this way, probably carries 

 with it more mischief than can be eradicated in a twelve 

 month. 



ASSUMED KNOWLEDGB. 



It is interesting to read the descriptions of this disease 

 by the would-be bee-doctors, who have never had a case 

 during their " long " experience. They have heard of it, 

 somewhere, and forthwith they know all about it, prescribe 

 remedies, and recommend antidotes. An article appeared 

 in an agricultural paper not long since, with alarming fea- 

 tures. After describing the disease, he gave as the only 

 safe remedy, burning the hive, killing the bees, and bury- 

 ing the remainder of the contents ; proving that he knew 

 nothing of the subject, and had copied from some unrelia- 

 ble source. A person, who will advise such waste, should 

 not be accepted as a teacher of the people. To say he ad- 

 vised it ignorantly, without due consideration, does not 

 help the matter. Why did he assume to teach what he 

 knew nothing about ? What is the use of killing a colony 

 of bees, when, if attended to in season, they may be con- 

 verted into a good stock, worth several dollars? Such 

 nives often contain several poimds of beautiful honey, — 

 why bury it ? And why waste one or two pounds of good 

 wax which may be readily exchanged for gold ? 



