14 TREATMENT OP BEE DISEASES. 



vastatioii of the disease by removing all material capable of trans- 

 mitting the cause of the trouble. 



The cause of European foul brood is not definitely known, but the 

 same principles of treatment doubtless apply in this disease also. 

 In all of the operations great pains should be taken not to spread the 

 disease through carelessness. After handling a diseased colony the 

 hands of the operator should be washed with water to remove any 

 honey that may be on them. It does not pay to treat colonies that 

 are considerably weakened by disease. In case there are several 

 such colonies they should be united to form strong, vigorous colonies 

 before or during treatment. 



In discussing treatment it is assumed that hives with movable 



frames are in use. Box hives are a menace in regions where disease 



is present. These may be treated for disease by drumming the colony 



into another box and then hiving it like a SAvarm in a hive, but box 



hives are not profitable and are especially to be condemned where 



disease is present on account of the difficulty in inspecting and 



treating. 



Shaking Treatment. 



The shaking treatment consists essentially in the removal of all 

 infected material from the colony, and in compelling the colony to 

 take a fresh start by building new combs and gathering fresh stores. 

 This is done by shaking the bees from the old combs into a clean hive 

 on clean frames. 



Time of treatment. — The shaking treatment should be given during 

 a flow of honey, so that other bees in the apiary will not be inclined 

 to rob. If this is not possible the operation may be performed under 

 a tent made of mosquito netting. The best time is during the middle 

 of a clear day when a large number of bees are in the field. It is 

 sometimes recommended that shaking be done in the evening, but 

 this is impossible if many colonies are to be treated. The colony 

 can be handled more quickly when the field force is out of the hive. 



Preparation. — All implements that will be needed, such as queen 

 and drone trap, hive tool, and lighted smoker, should be in readiness 

 before the operation is begun. A complete clean hive with frames 

 is provided, as well as a tightly closed hive body in which to put the 

 contaminated combs after shaking. An extra hive cover or some 

 similar apparatus should be provided to serve as a runway for the 

 bees as they enter the new hive. The new frames should contain 

 strips of comb foundation from one-fourth to 1 inch wide. Full 

 sheets are not desirable, and if combs built on full sheets of founda- 

 tion are desired they may be built later. 



Operation.— The old hive containing the diseased colony (fig. 6, .4) 

 is now lifted to one side out of the flight of returning field bees 

 and the clean hive (B) set exactly in its place. The cover ((?) is 



442 



