THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL 
125 
flesh, an idea I find in an old bcc-book I have 
by me. I maintain, therefore, that it is to the 
invention of the movable comb system that 
we owe the large amount of information we 
now possess as to the habits, &c., of bees. I 
do not pretend that our knowledge is complete, 
but it is, nevertheless, very satisfactory. W ith 
the frame hives we are able at all times to 
follow the various process of honey storing 
and to correct or assist any deficiencies on the 
part of the bees. 
2. Diseases of bees. — Who, that has any 
acquaintance with ordinary beekeeping, but is 
will aware of the fact that sometimes the 
whole of an apiary will be swept away by 
some disease, and that the beekeeper is liclp- 
less to remedy such a state of affairs. One of 
the first questions I naturally put to people, 
when, as I often do, I am visiting distant 
parts, is “ Well how are your frees getting on P " 
and it would be surprising to many persons 
to learn, how common it is to find cases of 
dwindling or some unknown disease which 
has carried of all the bees. By the use of the 
modern system, any disorder can be at once 
detected, and in most cases immediately 
rectified. It is quite true that there are some 
forms of disease, such as foul brood, which 
seem to defy all attempts to overcome them, 
but it may be confidently hoped that in a 
short time, taking into consideration the num- 
berless experiment* now beingtnade todiscovcr 
a core, we shall be able to explain not merely 
the cause but the remedy for this fearful pest. 
At any rate, it is quite certain that as long as 
the use of boxes continues so long will such 
diseases be found. I believe that in a great 
number of cases foul brood spreads from box 
hives to frame hives of neighbours, and I am 
inclined to think, considering how infectious 
the disease is, that it will not be until box 
hives arc the exception and not the rule that it 
will be overcome ; for as long ns it exists in a 
box hive it is practically impossible to check it. 
I know that plans havo been suggested for 
treating the disease in boxes, but 1 believe they 
have only been attended with partial success. 
:t Regulation of swarming. — This result of 
the modern system should alone be sufficient to 
recommend it to the attention of beekeeper*. 
Every one appreciates the extreme incon. 
venience of ordinary swarming. Generally at 
the most inconvenient or busy time, very often 
on Sunday, there is nothing to be done but 
cither run the risk of losing the swarms or else 
neglect other thing* in order to attend to them. 
And then the work of hiving a swarm is often 
attended with considerable difficulty and 
labour. Now *11 this is completely dispensed 
with if ordinary care be paid to the modern 
plan of swarming artificially. Not only can 
more or less swarms be obtained a* may be 
desired, but the whole thing can be done in a 
few seconds. I will undertake to make half- 
a-dozen swarms in ten or twelve minutes with- 
out trouble, dirt, or killing a bee. 
4. Feeding, &c., weak colonies. — It is im- 
possible to form an idea how many colonies are 
lost every season owing to the beekeeper not 
being aware of the condition of the hives. A 
[ prolonged winter or early autumn may reduce 
j the stores of the bees so that, unless a little 
timely succour be given to them, they will 
perish. If it is true that “ a bird in hand is 
worth two in the bush," it is equally true of 
bees in the spring. One strong swarm in the 
beginning of the season is worth half-a-dozen 
weak ones, and the difference may be altogether 
due to judicious feeding of a pound or two 
of syrup. Again, in the modern system the 
weak hives may be united to form one strong 
one. All this shows beyond doubt that the 
modern system has many decided advantages 
quite apart from the extra yield of honey that 
may bo obtained. — Tatmanian, 29th Jun., 
1887. 
The Bee-louse. 
THE following is the substance of some 
observations made by Mr. H. Tryon in refer- 
ence to an interesting exhibit shown by him 
at the meeting of the Royal Society of Queens- 
land on Friday, 7th January. 
Whilst requesting information as to the 
best method of mounting for the microscope 
a particular bee - parasite, our well-known 
apiarist, Mr. R. J. Cribb, introduced to my 
notice the interesting ohjects of this class 
I which had suggested his inquiry. Accompany- 
I ing a specimen of what appeared to be a 
| hybrid Italian worker-bee were three tiny 
insects, stated to have been found parasitic 
upon it. These, on examination, proved to be 
1 nothing other than the remarkable Hraula 
circa of Nit z»ch. Bruula is indeed a note- 
worthy animal, one of the least developed of 
| the great family of flies proper, or Ihptera, 
and a connecting link as it were between 
insects and Arachnids (scorpions, spiders, 
mites, &c.) Its life-history and structure, 
however, show that degraded though it is, 
and though it is one in which no wings proper 
occur, it is nevertheless a true dipterous insect. 
It is also quite blind, and hence the designa- 
tion cite a. Scarcely exceeding holf-a-line in 
length, it is of a dark brown colour, and is 
clothed with stiff hairs. Its large brood head 
is remarkable not only on account of the 
nbsence of eyes, but for the possession of 
curious three-jointed antenme contained in 
deep pits. Considered with reference to those 
of other icaects, its mouth organa too have a 
