46 



Bee-Keeping Simplified for the 



In introducing a queen, be sure that tlie colony has been 

 queenless for twenty-four hours, then place the queen with a 

 few attendant workers under a pipe cover cage. Fig. 56, and 

 fasten it on to a comb over food by screwing the metal rim at 



liiill. 



t 



IIJ 



ay 



Fig. 56. 



LJ 



Fig. 56. 



the bottom into the cells. In this way the queen is protected 

 from the alien workers by the wire cloth covering until she 

 attains the odour of the hive, so that when liberated at the 

 end of twenty-four hours she will be accepted, whereas, if not 

 caged, she would be killed immediately she was put in. 



XIX.— DISEASES. 



The most important disease is that called "Isle of Wight." 

 Bees so affected soil the alighting board and entrance to the 

 hive, and also the inside, with excreta. A number of bees 

 will be found creeping on the ground and up the surrounding 

 herbage, others collect in small clusters, and all are unable to 

 fly. An examination of these will show that in many cases 

 the wings are dislocated and the abdomen badly distended. 

 The bees generally die off very quickly. If the colony is strong, 

 it may be saved by introducing an imported fertile Italian 

 queen. As the disease spreads rapidly, if the affected colony is 

 weak, it is advisable to destroy the bees at once and spray the 

 combs with Bacterol. They should not be used again for at 

 least a month. 



Foul Brood is another disease. When attacked the adult 

 bees are listless, and much of the brood will be found dead 

 in the cells. Instead of being quite white and curled up like 

 the letter C the grubs will be elongated and of a buff colour, 



