DIAGNOSING COLONIES 
275 
codling moth. The hive should be exam¬ 
ined at once, and either a laying queen be 
given or a ripe cell. 
CHECKING UP SURFACE INDICATIONS. 
So far, surface indications shown at the 
entrance will indicate to an expert, and 
even to a beginner who has made a study 
of the matter, how to determine which colo¬ 
nies will need attention first, or what is the 
probable condition of any or all of the 
colonies. Except in the case of hunting 
for positive evidence of foul brood, either 
American or European (see Foul Brood), 
it is not necessary to examine every square 
inch of comb or brood. A good beekeeper 
will diagnose his colonies first by the en¬ 
trance. He will then, if necessary, get a 
much closer knowledge of what a colony is 
doing by looking at a single frame of 
brood in the center of the brood-nest. A 
quick glance at this frame will show 
whether the queen is a good or a poor one. 
If in a little doubt after examining the 
first frame, he may pick out another frame, 
after which he will apply treatment if any 
is needed. See Brood and Brood-rearing. 
In short, when a beeman goes thru his 
apiary he should use methods which will 
give him a knowledge of his colonies and 
of what they are doing—in as short time as 
possible. In this way he saves labor and 
will increase his profits. 
The author has personally handled sev¬ 
eral outyards, largely by surface indica¬ 
tions, or, as here defined, diagnosing from 
the outside. By placing a stick, stone, or 
other identifying object on top of the 
hives that needed attention at once, as de¬ 
termined by surface indications, he used to 
manipulate only those colonies, and leave 
the rest alone until they could work up to 
a pitch when they likewise began to show 
they were doing business. 
DISEASES OF BEES.— A few years 
ago it was believed that bees were freer 
from disease than perhaps any other class 
of animated nature, for the reason that in¬ 
dividual members of the colonies were so 
constantly giving way to the younger ones. 
But this has been shown to be, to some ex¬ 
tent at least, a mistake. Apparently there 
are at least three or four distinct dis¬ 
eases with which the beekeeper has to con¬ 
tend ; and it is well for the beginner to 
have an idea, at least, of what they are 
like. The time to cure a disease of a 
contagious character is to take it at the 
start, or, better still, take precautionary 
measures such as will prevent its making 
even a beginning. 
IIOW TO AVOID DISEASE. 
Contagious diseases spread very rapidly 
among bees, just as they make rapid head¬ 
way in crowded centers of the human fam¬ 
ily. Unfortunately, bees are disposed to 
rob from each other during a dearth of 
honey; and, if the germs of disease or 
infection reside in the honey, they may be 
scattered over the entire apiary in a few 
days. Any infected colony is naturally 
weakened and discouraged, and as a result 
the bees do not make the defense that they 
would under normal conditions. During a 
dearth of honey the healthy bees all over 
the yard are quite disposed to rob the 
weak or the sick ones, so that the infection 
is scattered right and left. 
One of the best precautions against dis¬ 
ease is good food, and keeping all colonies 
strong. A healthy human being is much 
more able to resist the germs of infection 
than one who is “all run down.” A per¬ 
son, for instance, is not likely to come 
down with typhoid fever unless his system 
is greatly reduced. 
TWO CLASSES OF DISEASES. 
The diseases with which the beekeeper 
has to contend may be divided into two 
classes—those that affect the mature flying 
bees, and those that attack the brood. The 
latter are considered under Foul Brood. 
Among the diseases that attack the ma¬ 
ture bees may be mentioned “spring dwin¬ 
dling.” This, perhaps, should hardly be 
considered a disease, but it is a malady 
with which one has to deal. Still another 
trouble is dysentery. This in some cases 
may be a germinal disease; and in most 
cases assumes the nature of ordinary diar¬ 
rhea. See Dysentery. 
BEE PARALYSIS. 
This is a disease that is much more prev¬ 
alent and virulent in warm than in cold 
climates. Almost every apiarist in the 
North has noticed at times one or two colo- 
