The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-15
Bee KEEPERS.
SHOULD CHECK.
ON FOULBROOD.
State Apiary Inspector
Gives Methods of Keep
ing Tab on Hives
By p. C. CRADDOCK
State ApiarS Inspector

One of the most important
things beekeepers can do To con-
troll American toutDrood IN sec
tons where it is known or suS-
pecteJ 10 be present Is to cHecN
over their bees early in the SprInS
before there are any days warm
enough for the bees 70 fly tree.y
and examine any dead colonies 70
see whether they dicd from foul
brood or not. II IS easy to PICK
out the dead colonies in yard on
= day that is too cold for the bees
TO fiv by giving the side Of the
hive a sharp jar and then listen
ing for the buzziug OF the bees
inside. If no 0uEzinE IS heard al
ter the Erc has been Jared two
or three times the colony Is apt
to be dead and should DC exam
med closely.
In order TO tell whether the col
ory had foulbrood or not the
brood combs should be removed
one at a time and examined close
u. American foulbrood Is caused
br bacteria which attacks the
larvae about the time they are
ready to be capped over IN the
cells. A few OF the ,aryoc die be-
fore they are capped over Guy
most O. them die after re eel
has been capped. The diseased
larvae first takes or +i.&'y
brownish color and sinks down i'll
the cell losing the vel, founded
shape and pcariy white color OF
healthy larvae.
As decay continues the larvae
mass becomes dark brown or COT
fee colOred and often has strong
pIue-like odOr. The cappings are
sunken. dark colorei, and perto-
rated with small pin holes. Al TINS
stage the dead larvae has q stlcNy'
ropy consistency and will often
rome out in thin threads two or
three inches long If a toothplck
or some similar object IS twisted
around in the cell little and then
withdrawn. The dead larvae CON
tinue TO disintegrate into a sticky
elue-ike mass which finally dries
down 10 a dark brown or almost
black scale which sticks to floor
of the cell so tightly that 1t can
not be removed without tearing
up the cell. These dried down
scales are often the only form or
.he disease found in dead colonies
early in the spring because the
brood has been dead 50 long 1t
has all dried down into scales.
These scales can easily be seen II
the comb is held IN such a way
that the light shines on the floor
Of the cells. If there Is doubt
about whether disease is present
or not assistance may be secured
by writing the State Inspector.
Paicigh, y. c.
Dead colonies which are found
to contain foulbrOod should be re-
moved from the yard at once and
destroyed. Great care should be
taken TO see that all the honey
and comb is thoroughly disposed
Of in such a way that the bees
cannot get 70 any Of it. because
the main way foulbrood is spread
is in the honey. Burning is usual
ly the best way TO destroy them.
If the bees are allowed to rob the
honey out Of a COLONY or two that
have died from fouibrood all the
colonies in the yard are apt to
take the disease.
Another way I'm which much
foulbrOod is spread Is in moving
bees that have the disease from
one location TO another. In an
effort to check the spreading of
foulbrood into sections that arc
now free from il the Department
of Agriculture has adopted regu-
lations which state that no bees
or used apiary equipment shall be
SC,d or moved from one location
10 another until after il has been
inspected AID found free from
American fouihrood. Any person
who IS intending 10 buy bees
should for MS own protection in