DESTRUCTION OF WORMS. 
167 
MISTAKEN CONCLUSIONS. 
It is supposed by many, when these worms are found 
on the board, they get there by accident, having drop- 
ped from the combs above. They seem not to under- 
stand that the worm generally travels on safe princi- 
ples ; that is, he attaches a thread to whatever he 
travels over. To be satisfied on this point, I have 
many times carefully detached his foot-hold, when on 
the side of the hive or other place, where he would 
fall a few inches, and always found him with a thread 
fast at the place he left, to enable him to regain his 
position if he chose. Is it not probable, then, that 
whenever he leaves the combs for the bottom-board, he 
can readily ascend again ? No doubt he often does, 
to be driven down again by the bees. Now, what I 
wish to get at by all this preamble, is simply this : 
that all our trouble and worrying to prevent the 
worms from again ascending to the combs — by wire 
hooks, wire pins, screws, nails, turned pins, clam- 
shells, blocks of wood, &c., is perfect nonsense, when 
half or more of them would not harm the bees any 
more if they did, and might as well go there as any 
where else. Besides, these useless “ fixins ” are verj' 
often a positive injury to the bees. 
OBJECTIONS TO SUSPENDED BOTTOM-BOARD. 
Suppose, if you please, that the worm has no thread 
attached above, and. your board is far enough from 
the bottom of the hive to prevent his reaching it. Of 
course, he can’t get up; but how are your bees to do 
an}' better? The worm can reach as high as they can. 
