Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-17
THE BUSY BEE.
(By d. Everett Lyon.)

season to add to the comfort of the
bees if they were properly prepared
for winter in November.
The wise beekeeper spends the spare
moments of winter in putting hives
and sections together SO as not TO be
rushed to death when the swarming
season is in full blast; and apart from
this there is another item in favor
of getting ones supplies now, namely
the extra discount allowed by the sup
ply houses at this season of the year.
Information recently sent OUT by
the agricultural department at Wash
ington, on foul brood, is worth quot
ing here: There are now recognized
two contagious bee diseases, known as
American foul brood and European
foul brood. From data recently OBJ.
tained by the United States depart
ment of agriculture, it is known that
American foul brood exists in 282
counties in thirty-seven states, and
European foul brood in 160 counties in
twenty-four states, and it is estimated
conservatively that these diseases are
causing a loss to the beekeepers of
the United States of at least S1,000,-
600 annually. This estimate is based
on the probable value of the colonies
which die, and the approximate loss
of crop due to the weakened condition
of diseased colonies. The states in
which the diseases are most prevalent
are California, Colorado, Illinois, In
diana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mis-
souri,, Nebraska, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and
Wisconsin, and it is unfortunate that
these are the states in which honey
production is most profitable, making
the future outlook of the beekeeping
industry so much the worse unless ac-
tive measures are taken to control the
diseases. Furthermore, the distribu-
ton of these diseases is by no means
fully known, and they are constantly
spreading.
The cause of American foul brood
has been found by the department to
be specific bacterium, and enough is
known of the cause and nature of
European foul brood, which is also a
bacterial disease, to make it possible
to issue reliable recommendation con-
corning treatment for both diseases.
Both attack the developing brood, and
as the adult bees die from old age or
other causes, the colony becomes de-
pleted since there are not enough
young bees emerging to keep up the
numbers. When the colony become,
weak, bees from other colonies ente,
to rob the honey, and the infection II
spread.
Both of these diseases can be con-
trolled with comparative ease by the
progressive beekeeper, but the chief
difficulty encountered in combating
these diseases is the fact that the ma
jority of beekeepers are unaware that
any such diseases exist; they often
attribute their losses to other sources.
and nothing is done to prevent the
spread of the infection. 1t is therefore
necessary in most cases to point out
the existence and nature of the dis
eases, as well as to spread informa-
tion concerning the best methods of
treatment. Several states have pass
ed laws providing for the inspection of
apiaries for disease, and -he beekeep-
ers in other states are askig for the
same protection, so that careless Or
Ignorant beekeepers can be prevented
from endangering their neighbor's
bees. This inspection is benefit in
the spread of information concerning
disease, in so far as the inspectors can
cover the territory. The department
of agriculture is helping in this work
by sending out publications to the bee
keepers in infected regions, by exam
ining samples of brood suspected of
disease, and by sending out informa-
ton concerning the presence of dis
ease, so that beekeepers will be in
former that their apiaries are in dan
ger. The cooperation of agricultural
colleges, state beekeepers' associations
and other similar agencies, is urged.
In view of the fact that these dis
eases are so widespread, every person
interested in beekeeping should find
out as soon as possible how to recog-
nize and treat these maladies, and be
on the lookout for them"
WILSON EXPECTS TO SEE