BEE KEEPING IN RHODE ISLAND. 9 



that the disease will disappear of its own accord, a thing which the 

 author never knew to occur in a genuine case of American foul brood. 

 European foul brood is most destructive during the spring and early 

 summer, often almost disappearing in late summer and autumn." 



If taken in time, both of these diseases may be controlled without 

 serious loss to the bee-keeper, but if allowed to go unchecked, they 

 will soon ruin any apiary, great or small. 



The basis of treatment of both diseases is to deprive the infected 

 colonies of all combs, whether empty or containing brood or honey, the 

 bees being put into a new or thoroughly disinfected hive and allowed 

 to start housekeeping anew. It will be from four to six days before 

 they have any young to feed, and by that time all the honey they 

 had in their honey sacs when taken from their infected hive will be 

 gone, and the young will receive pure food, fresh from the flowers. 



Except in fairly large apiaries, it is not worth while trying to save 

 any of the brood from infected colonies. When it is desired to save 

 such brood, it should all be given to one or two diseased colonies and 

 allowed to remain for two or three weeks, after which these colonies 

 should also be treated. In transferring diseased brood it is best 

 to put it above a queen-excluding honeyboard, so that the queen 

 of the colony may not lay eggs in the diseased combs. It is not 

 wise to dequeen such colonies, for colonies without a queen are less 

 likely to keep out robbers, and if robbers gain access to the infected 

 honey, the disease will then appear in the colonies to which they belong. 

 The combs from diseased colonies may be melted and the wax re- 

 covered, and wax from such sources appears to be safe to use in foun- 

 dation making, etc. The refuse from the combs should he burned. 

 The honey as a rule is not worth trying to save. It is so difficult to 

 sterilize it, that its return to the bees for food is most unwise. If it 

 is clear and nice, its use as human food is all right, for the micro- 

 scopic plants are harmless to the human system. But do not let a 

 single drop of it get to the bees. 



The frames from diseased colonies may be saved by immersing 

 them for a few minutes in a very strong solution of washing soda 



