THOUSAND ANSWERS 
17 
seems to be old bees. They turn black, and are driven out. The 
brood seems to be all right. I had one colony affected the same 
way last year that became all right. I would Jike to know the 
cause and cure, if any. I have over 100 colonies, but never saw 
anything like it before. 
A. The probability is that it is a case of bee-paralysis. The 
bees are black and shiny from losing their plumage. They come 
out of the hive and jump around on the ground, generally with 
bodies somewhat distended, and there is a peculiar trembling mo- 
tion of the wings. The sound bees appear to pester and drive 
the sick ones. As far north as you are, it is doubtful if you need 
pay any attention to it. I’ve had several cases of the disease, and 
never did anything for it and the disease disappeared of itself. 
Far enough south it becomes a terror, and although many cures 
have been offered they generally fail to effect a cure. O. O. Pop- 
pleton-says he cures by sprinkling sulphur over the bees and 
comb. Texas beekeepers of late claim that excessive dampness 
in the hive is the prime cause. They practice shaking the bees 
onto perfectly dry combs in a dry hive. 
Q .Will camphor prevent bee-paralysis if I put a small piece 
in the hive? 
A. It will probably have no effect whatever. 
Bees, Best Strain. — Q. What is the best bee for this country, 
the Buckeye strain, 3-banded, golden Italian or leather colored? 
A. There are good bees of almost all kinds; the majority of 
beekeepers probably prefer the 3-banded leather colored Italians. 
Bees Dying. — Q. What ails my bees? Quite a number of them 
are dead or dying. One day when the snow was on the ground I 
saw dead bees on the snow. While I was there a bee came flying 
out of the hive, lit on the snow and was frozen; it was zero 
weather. I have a box set over the hive; the front side is open. 
They are not packed. The entrance of the hive is wide open, and 
they have plenty of honey to winter on, with nothing to disturb 
them. They are Italian bees. 
■j- A. There may be nothing wrong at all; depends upon what 
is meant by “quite a number.” In a strong colony it is nothing 
strange if a thousand bees die off in the course of the winter; 
and when the sun is shining upon the white snow it is not alarm- 
ing to see a bee fly out to meet its death in the snow. JL. 
Q. What is the cause of a colony of bees dying in the winter 
with plenty of honey in the hive? It seemed to be in good shape 
when it went into winter quarters. 
A. It may be that the cluster of bees was in the center with 
