260 
TIIK HIVE AND HONEY-HEE. 
remained latent in the hive. The bees do not usually 
remove all the putrid matter from the cells, but let some 
portions remain in the corners after it has become dry, 
merely covering it with a film of wax or propolis, through 
which, subsequently, when circumstances favor its action, 
the virus may exert a malignant influence and cause a 
revival of the disease. Hence, when I do not break up 
such colonies altogether in Autumn, and transfer the bees 
to new hives or other colonies with pure combs, I 
invariably regard them with suspicion, as unreliable, 
and keep them under strict surveillance at least a year 
longer. 
“ I also use these suspected colonies, by preference, for 
the production of queens with which to supply queenless 
colonies or start artificial swarms — successively removing 
from them the young queens as soon as they prove to be 
fertile or I have occasion to use them. In this way, I 
make such a colony furnish three or four — nay, sometimes, 
by inserting sealed royal cells, even five or six young 
queens. But, in such operations, I invariably take the 
bees and brood for the artificial swarms, from colonies 
which are unquestionably free from the disease. For this 
purpose, I select strong colonies having young and 
vigorous queens, and which are consequently able to 
furnish the required supplies without any serious diminu- 
tion of population, when the season is at all favorable to 
the multiplication of stocks. In such seasons, strong 
colonies, in good condition, with a vigorous queen in the 
prime of life, can easily supply brood and bees sufficient 
for four swarms.” — Bienenztitung , 1857, No. 4. 
