DISEASES OF BEES 107 



will, almost surely, be completely destitute 

 by March, for not until that month is there 

 sufficient honey to be found to keep the colony 

 going. In such cases the bees will generally be 

 found buried in the cells, to the bottom of which 

 they have crawled in a last despairing effort to 

 obtain food. The sight of such combs is heart- 

 rending, and should fill the neglectful bee-keeper 

 with severe remorse. 



But if absence of food is bad, unsuitable food is 

 only a degree better, and a very common com- 

 plaint amongst bees is dysentery, which is brought 

 on by unsuitable food. In domestic apiaries the 

 cause is usually attributed to food being given 

 to bees too late in the season. After the end 

 of September it is almost impossible for bees to 

 work their wax, the temperature being insuffi- 

 ciently high, so that if food is given them after the 

 middle of October they are unable to seal it over. 

 The consequence is that it ferments, and causes 

 the unpleasant disease named above. It may 

 also be brought on by giving impure sugar. 

 Sugar which is given to bees should always be 

 pure cane. Beet sugar contains certain salts of 

 potash which are bad for bees, and the raw sugars 

 contain a great deal of waste matter which, if 

 retained too long in the system, is sure to bring on 

 this trouble. 



It does not occur in the summer, because the 

 insects are able to get out and discharge their 



