The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-10-09

although in severe cases there seems
to be a slight odor, which, however,
should not be taken as a sure means
of diagnosis. In the final stage the
melted down mass dries up and be-
comes a grayish black scale which
unlike American foul brood, may be
easily removed. These scales may
be found in any position in the cell.
Drone and Queen larvae are fire.
quently affected and this may be a
means Of aiding in the diagnosis.
Probably the most common meth
cd of spreading the disease is rob-
bling and the practice of equalizing.
The manner in which European
foul brood is spread cannot be de-
f~initely accounted for, but some
think the virus may be carried on
into healthy colonies. This, how
ever, is not certain.
AS black bees are more suscept-
ible to European foul brood t han
Italian bees. ~Beekeepers, where this
disease is prevalent, should have all
colonies headed by Italian queens of
vigorous and resistent stock. Not
all strains of Italians are equally re-
sistent; therefore, the ~beekeeper
should make observations as to the
ability of his colonies to resist di-
sease. Queens whose progency show
resistent qualities should be used as
breeding stock to requiem all other
colonies. AS European foul brood
is a disease of weak colonies, bee
keepers should take every precau-
ton to secure strong colonies of bees.
The disease is most prevalent during
the spring and early summer months,
hence colonies should be properly
prepared the previous fall. They
should be put into winter quarters
with a goodly supply of food, a large
number of young bees, and a vigor-
GUS, prolific young queen. They
should also have the proper winter
protection. Colonies that come
through the winter in a weakened
condition should be united as early
in the spring as is permissible in or
der to secure strong colonies.
According to Mr.. Sipple, frequent
failures in treating may be account
ed for by the fact that the beekeep-
er attempts to treat colonies that
are too weak to be saved. It should
be emphasized that only reasonably
strong colonies should be given treat
ment, and all weak, diseased colon
les should be united.
The treatmen given to colonies af-
fected with European foul brood does
not cause a great loss in equipment
as is the case with American foul
brood. The guiding principle to be
followed in the treatment for this
disease is to see to it that condi-
lions are made favorable for the bees
to remove as much as possible of the
diseased material during a time
time when there is no new brood
coming on. If a colony is badly di-
seased it is advisable to kill the
queen Immediately, since it is evil
dent that her p%rogency are not cap
able of resisting the disease. In about
a week after the queen has been re-
the colony should be exam
ined and all queen cells destroyed
that the colony may become abb
queenless. The colony is
allowed to remain in this condition
until most of the diseased material
has cen removed, and then requiem
ed with a vigorous, resistent,
young, Italian queen.
In treating and controlling Euro
pean foul brood it is not necessary
to destroy the brood combs unless
they are too foul to be of further
service. Hives that contain foul
brood colonies need not be disinfect-
ed and may be used again without