CONTROL OF ETJBOPBAN POTTLBEOOP. 15 



The methods of requeening and rearing the queens are matters 

 aside from the treatment of European foulbrood, but in many cases 

 the directions have been obscured by including all such details. 

 Usually it is easier to introduce a queencell of the proper age for the 

 queen to emerge and mate by the time egg laying may again proceed 

 safely in the colony. 



(2) A substitute for the treatment just described introduces no 

 new principle. The colonies found to have European foulbrood are 

 graded according to strength, and half or more of the stronger ones 

 are shaken to dry extracting combs (not comb foundation) at the 

 same time that the old queens are killed and replaced by young, vig- 

 orous stock. No colony too weak to have five frames of brood should 

 be so treated. If there is no honey coming in, the combs may contain 

 some honey, and it is immaterial whether or not it comes from a col- 

 ony having European foulbrood. The removed brood is now stacked 

 on the weaker diseased colonies so that they may be increased in 

 strength. Just as soon as these have reached the degree of strength 

 possessed by the first colonies shaken, they, too, may be shaken to 

 drawn combs containing no brood, and the diseased brood is given to 

 the remaining few diseased colonies. Usually by the time that the 

 last colonies are ready for treatment it will be found that treatment 

 is not necessary, for in many cases the dead brood will have been 

 removed. If necessary, of course, every diseased colony may be 

 treated. 



This substitution for the more usual method of treatment has cer- 

 tain advantages. No colony is left queenless and, as a result, the total 

 brood reared in the apiary is increased. No brood is wasted, and the 

 colonies which receive the most of the combs containing diseased 

 brood are usually made sufficiently strong to gather a good crop. 



(3) Another method which is much used is to place all the brood 

 combs of the infected colony except one in the second hive body over 

 a queen-excluder and to place the queen below with the one frame of 

 brood and frames containing foundation or even drawn combs. Others 

 prefer to put the queen and one frame of brood above. Of course 

 only good Italian queens should be used. , 



It is interesting to note that the methods used in the control of 

 European foulbrood are exactly the same as are used in remedial 

 methods for swarm control.^ Either the queen or the brood is re- 

 moved or the queen and brood are separated within the hive. Such a 

 similarity is probably of significance, but this at present is merely 

 a matter of speculation. 



GOOD BEEKEEPING WILL ERADICATE THE DISEASE. 



It can not be emphasized too strongly that the practices of good 

 beekeeping are those which result in the eradication of European 



^ See Farmers' Bulletin 503, " Comb Honey." 



