AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 139 



FEEDING AND DISINFECTING. 



In all cases when treatment is going on and honey 

 is not being stored freely, feed sugar-syrup liberally 

 after shifting the bees on the fourth day. Mix half a 

 pint of water with each pound of sugar used, stir well, 

 and bring it to the boil ; when cool it is ready. Always 

 feed within the hi\e and in the evening. 



Notwithstanding that some authorities, among them 

 McEvoy himself, contend that there is no necessity for 

 disinfecting foul broody hives, I maintain that it is 

 unwise to neglect doing anything within reason that 

 may have a tendency to prevent a further outbreak of 

 disease. 



Be sure to remove out of the way of the bees, and 

 disinfect or burn, everything used during the operations 

 of treatment ; and a solution of izal should be kept for 

 disinfecting the hands, knives, etc., after handling an 

 infected colony. Directions are given on the bottles, 

 and a weak solution will not harm the skin. Also dig 

 the ground over around the diseased hive-stand. The 

 hive, bottom board, and cover, if sound and worth 

 saving, should be cleaned and thoroughly disinfected 

 with a strong solution of carbolic acid or izal, or singed 

 inside by fire. 



AFTER-INSPECTION. 



In from three to four weeks, when the new brood 

 begins to emerge, keep a look-out for any suspicious- 

 looking brood-cells, and if any are seen, cut them out 

 at once, together with the adjoining cells. If suspicious 

 cells recur, treat again fully. " Eternal vigilance " 

 should be the watchword of every bee-keeper who hopes 

 to keep down disease. 



TO PREVENT SWARMING OUT. 



On rare occasions colonies swarm out during treat- 

 ment, but this is not likely to occur when honey is being 

 gathered freely. It can be guarded against by caging 



