Diseases oj Bees. 403 



sufficient. Mr. Jones closes the entrance by use of wet 

 grass, straw, or shavings. Mr. Hayhurst places a frame 

 six inches by eighteen inches covered by wire gauze over 

 the entrance. This keeps the robbers out, and still affords 

 ventilation. 



Another way to secure such colonies against robbing is 

 to move them into the cellar for a few days. This is a 

 further advantage, as less food is eaten, and the strength 

 of the individual bees is conserved by the quiet, and as 

 there is no nectar in the fields no loss is suffered. 



In all the work of the apiary at times of no honey gath- 

 ering, we cannot be too careful to keep all honey from 

 the bees unless placed in the hives. The hives, too, should 

 not be kept open long at a time. Neat, quick work should 

 be the watchword. During times when robbers are essay- 

 ing to practice their nefarious designs, the bees are likely 

 to be more than usually irritable, and likely to resent intru- 

 sion; henee the importance of more than usual caution, if 

 it is desired to introduce a queen. Working under the bee- 

 tent (Figs. Ill and 118) prevents all danger of inciting 

 the bees to rob. 



DISEASE. 



The common dysentery — indicated by the bees soiling 

 their hives, as they void their fseces within instead of with- 

 out — which so frequently works havoc in our apiaries, is, 

 without doubt, I think, consequent upon wrong manage- 

 ment on the part of the apiarist, poor honey, or bad win- 

 tering, usually the result of severe weather, as already 

 suggested in Chapter XVIII. As the methods to prevent 

 this have already been sufficiently considered, we pass to 

 the terrible 



FOUL BROOD. 



This disease, said to have been known to Aristotle — 

 though this' is doubtful, as a stench attends common dysen- 

 tery though it has occurred in our State as well as in States 



about us, is not very familiar to me. Of late I receive many 

 samples of this affected brood each season. It is causing 



