Texas Beekeeping. 127 



plantations where large apiaries were located without showing any 

 evil results, it may be surmised that there is little danger from this 

 source. Since the nectar from the cotton plant is gathered from the 

 nectaries located under the bracts of the "squares" and blossoms 

 and from underneath the large leaves, there is little danger of the 

 falling poison reaching these nectaries to any great extent. Conse- 

 quently the bees, in gathering the nectar, would incur very little 

 danger of being poisoned. The reader should turn back and read 

 the chapter on "Poison Sprays and Bees" in the forepart of this 

 bulletin. 



Paralysis. A large number of inquiries are received every year, 

 especially during the spring, regarding a trouble that is quite fre- 

 quent in many parts of the State and especially so in North Texas. 

 The bees appear to be very weak, and are affected with a trembling 

 of the body, as if in great pain. They seem unable to control them- 

 selves and act as if they had lost power of direction over their limbs, 

 sometimes some of their legs, and often of their wings, also. They 

 are generally very smooth and glossy in appearance, owing to the 

 loss of body hairs, and the diseased bees can be easily distinguished 

 from the healthy ones. In mild cases only a few of these trembling 

 bees may be discovered when the frames of the colony are manipulated, 

 while everything else shows a most healthy condition. In severe 

 cases, however, great numbers are affected ; trembling, dying and dead 

 bees will be found in front of the hive and a listless condition of the 

 bees will be found in the interior. 



In many instances the trouble ceases aS soon as a flow of new nec- 

 tar begins or new pollen is gathered. In other eases this does not 

 have any effect upon the diseased colonies, and it is well for the bee- 

 keeper to take the matter in hand. The best form of treatment is to 

 sprinkle powdered sulphur in the entrance and force it into the 

 hives as far as it is possible to do so. The bees, in passing over the 

 sulphur, will carry it farther into the hive, where it will have its 

 effect. It is generally advocated to sprinkle the sulphur over the bees 

 on the combs by removing them from the hives, but the sulphur has 

 an evil effect upon the unsealed brood, killing all that it comes in 

 contact with. For this reason, this method is not advised. 



One of the handiest appliances is a cheap spray pump, so con- 

 structed that it has an opening large enough for a good blast of 

 sulphur to be blown through it. By blowing the sulphur into the 

 entrance with such an instrument, it can be forced well into the 

 hives, and upon the lower edges of the combs, without doing any ma- 

 terial damage to the brood, besides saving much time and extra labor. 

 The application should be repeated in about four days,- and again a 

 week later, if needed. This will only be necessary in severe cases, 

 however. 



BEE MOTHS. 



The most common complaint made by inexperienced beekeepers 

 is, that the "worms" destroy the bees for them, but this is really a 

 mistake, for worms never kill bees. The trouble in such cases is that 

 the colonies often become weak as a result of queenlessness, and the 



