

TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 



field. The infected hive ih now placed on top of or close beside the 



clean hive and a bee ebcape placed over the entrance, so that the 



younger bees and those which later emei'ge from the cells may leave 



the contaminated hive but can not return. They therefore join the 



colony in the new hive. If desired, the infected hive may be placed 



above the clean hive and a tin tube about 1 inch in diameter placed 



jfrom the old entrance so that the lower end is just above the open 



entrance of the new hive. The bees follow down this tube and on 



their return enter the new hive. ^'\T:ien all of the health}'^ brood has 



emerged from the infected combs the old hive is removed. This 



treatment induces less excitement in the apiary and is preferred by 



many experienced beekeepers. Care should be taken that the old 



hive is absolutely tight to prevent robbing. The old hive and its 



contents of honey and wax are treated as indicated under the shak- 



ing^ treatment. 



IFaU Treatment. 



If it is necessary to treat a colony so late in the fall that it would 

 be impossible for the bees to prepare for winter, the treatment may 

 be modijfied by shaking the bees onto combs entirely full of honey 

 so that there is no place for any brood to be reared. This will usually 

 be satisfactory only after brood rearing has entirely ceased. Unless 

 a colony is quite strong it does not pay to treat in the fall, but it 

 should be destroyed or united to another colony. In case a diseased 

 colony dies outdoors in the winter there is danger that other bees 

 may have opportunity to rob the hive before the beekeepers can close 

 the entrance. In case bees are wintered in the cellar it is more ad- 

 visable to risk wintering before treatment, for if the colony does die 

 the hive will not be robbed. 



Drugs. 



Many European writers have in the past advocated the use of 

 various drugs for feeding, in sugar sirup, to diseased colonies, or the 

 fumigation of contaminated combs. In the case of American foul 

 brood, of which the cause is known, it has been found that the drugs 

 recommended are not of the slightest value and no time should be 

 wasted in their use. 



TREATMENT FOR. EUROPEAlSr EOXJX BROOD. 



European foul brood is a very peculiar disease and its cause has 

 not yet been satisfactorily determined. It is, therefore, impossible to 

 discuss the treatment of this disease as definitely as that of American 

 foul brood. From the experience of many careful beekeepers it is, 

 however, possible to suggest some additional manipulations which 

 may be tried by experienced beekeepers. The treatments given pre- 

 viously are strongly recommended for this disease. 



