11 



Diseased combs may be disinfected by the use of Hutzelman's 

 solution or the water-alcohol or water-formalin solution. This 

 treatment is not being used as much as formerly and it is doubtful 

 if it pays unless there is a large number of combs to be treated. 

 Formalin is very disagreeable to use, quite expensive, and care 

 must be exercised in order to be successful. It is not generally 

 recommended for the small beekeeper, since considerable equip- 

 ment is necessary and many cases of failure have been reported. 

 The method usually employed is to extract the honey, being care- 

 ful to uncap every cell containing honey. If the water-formalin 

 treatment is used, the cappings of the brood must also be removed. 

 The combs are then soaked in water for twenty-four hours. The 

 water is then removed and the combs are soaked in the formalin 

 solution for forty-eight hours. This solution is then extracted 

 from the combs and they are set out in the open to air for several 

 weeks before being given to the bees. 



EUROPEAN FOULBROOD 



During the late nineties, European foulbrood swept across the 

 State of New York and caused great losses to the beekeepers, as 

 little was known of its cause or methods of control. While it still 



Fig. 5. Portion of a comb showing the 

 effect of European foulbrood upon the 

 larvae; a, j, k, normal sealed cells; b, c, 

 d, e, g, i, 1, m, p, q, larvae affected by 

 disease; r, normal larva at age attacked 

 by disease; f, h, n, o, dried-down larvae 

 or scales. Three times natural size. (E. 

 F. Phillips, Farmers' Bulletin No. 975, 

 U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.) 



causes considerable loss in some seasons and in some localities, it 

 has lost its terror for the progressive beekeeper. He has learned 

 how to control it by practicing better beekeeping methods. 

 European foulbrood spreads through the apiary much more rapidly 



