CHAPTER XI 
Diseases of Bees 
To understand thoroughly the life of the bee 
as exhibited in the hive is all to the benefit 
of the bee-keeper; for he will then quickly 
appreciate when matters are at all wrong with 
the bee communities in his care. He realises 
the necessity for keeping his stocks up to 
their full strength, for his knowledge tells 
him that they are better in every way for 
being numerically strong; they then keep 
warmer, consume less food proportionately 
than when the hive is weak, and give a far 
better return in brood and honey. 
There are many infectious diseases to 
which bees are liable, most of which are due 
to bacilli and yeasts or ferments, and which 
receive untold assistance from inferior or fer- 
menting food and unclean conditions in the 
hive. 
These, then, are two conditions against which 
the good bee-keeper is always on _ guard. 
He is careful never to give fermenting honey, 
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