88 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



dry place, where the temperature does not fall below 5odegs. Fahr. 

 A higher temperature is preferable. 



137. Packing Honey for Travelling. — In sending 

 away extracted honey by rail or otherwise, it is better for it to 

 be packed in stout tin vessels — small quantities in self-opening 

 tin boxes, and larger in properly constructed tin cans. Where 

 it has to be sent away in glass bottles, each must be surrounded 

 with straw to prevent breakage ; this is the best material, when 

 properly applied, for packing. 



Sections must be tightly packed in a box, and this box either 

 packed in another with straw, or — -as we have found very success- 

 ful — provided with a thick straw cushion on its under side and 

 edges ; this is made as follows : Obtain a piece of bacon wrapper, 

 or any cheap strong material, about Sin. or gin. larger each 

 way than the bottom of the box ; spread this on the ground, and 

 lay a good armful of straw on it ; now place the box on top, 

 and gather up the edges of cloth, tacking them to the side of 

 the box. See that there is plenty of straw, especially at the 

 corners and bottom. Label the box "Honey in the Comb," 

 " Very Fragile," " This Side up, or will be Broken." 



Crates for the conveyance of sectional honey are made by 

 bee-appliance manufacturers, but are very expensive. They 

 usually consist of a box within a box, the space between being 

 fitted with chair-springs. 



XII.— DISEASES OF BEES. 



Fortunately for the bee-keeper, bees are less liable to disease 

 than any other description of stock. Up to the present time there 

 are only two kinds that claim any attention, namely, dysentery 

 and " foul brood." To those who have studied bees and noted 

 well all their little failings, this short category of diseases is 

 not the limit. Without doubt, in time to come, when this sub- 

 ject has been fully studied by scientists, it will be found that 

 " foul brood " will have to be divided into several distinct diseases, 

 although all affecting the brood in its larval or pupal stage. But 

 little is known further than that it is a bacillus, varieties of which 

 are presumed to be the cause of most contagious and many other 

 diseases known to the medical faculty. We wish to impress upon 

 all bee-keepers the necessity of using the most stringent measures 

 to prevent spreading disease among neighbouring apiaries. " Foul 

 brood "_ IS gaining ground in these Islands. Only those who 

 by their duties are brought into communication with the out- 

 side world of bee-keepers have any idea as to the extent that 

 this plague has increased lately. In one district we are cognisant 

 of it was imported with a single colony of bees, which the 

 owner refused to destroy ; now it has spread in all directions. 



