The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1888. FOUL BROOD IN BEES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 13 June 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1888. FOUL BROOD IN BEES.

Mr F. Lawry, member for Franklin North, Auckland, has brought under "the notice of the Legislature the fact that a contagious disease known asi ' " foul brood" is prevalent among bees, ' and unless steps are taken to combat with it there will ere long be little or no ! J honey produced m New Zealand, Bee- , keeping is growing into an important I industry, and it is desirable that legislation should bo enacted to prevent those' who rear bees from keeping alive swarms which are unhealthy. Stringent legis lation can only prevent the spread of foul brood, and the Bill which Mr Lawry has introduced into the House 1 18 likely to be a useful measure. It haß, we believe, been introduced at the instigation and request of the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association. Tbe Bill is entitled " Foul brood and disease m Bees prevention," and its object is set forth as being " An Act for the protection of Bee culture." The Act will prevent the spread of and provide for the eradication as far as possible of any contagious diseases to which bees are [ subject. To carry out tho Act, if the Bill pass into law, one or more bee ex-p r perts will be appointed by the Governor who are to examine tho comb from hjvejj i suspected to be diseased, and m the event of any disease being traceable m it, the hive from which it was obtained, together with tbe bees, is to be destroyed by fire. In mild cases of the disease a Salicylic acid solution for mixing with syrup for feeding bees ; painting tho interior of the hives, and spraying combs and frames with the same is one mode of treatment which it is desirable to pursue. Other means are set forth m ' the Bill for curing bees of the disease provided it is not too far advanced. A • person having bees upon his premises affected with the disease, which will be ascertained by sending a portion of a comb to an expert, will be subjected to a fine not exceeding forty shillings unless he takes measures to destroy the hive or t arrest the progress of tbe disease. Provision is made for compelling bea-fceppers I to have their colonies of bees examined | if there is any suspicion of disease, The l fee for the examination of one parcel of comb by an expert shall be five shillings, > and if more than one sample comes from the same apiary the charge is to be one shilling for each sample examined. The 1 general treatment of .diseased h.ee^ is set forth as follows ; Remove the diseased i bees with their hive from its position , and put another hive, that has previously been disinfected by painting the interior ! with a solution of salicylic acid, or a • solution of phenol, m ita place, transfer ' the frames, combs, and bees from the old hive, spray them with a salicyle acid solution or with a pbenol solution, and put them m the new hive. Keaiove most or all of their honey, and feed the i bees on medicated or phenol#ted syrup 1 until cured of disease. The old hfye I must be thoroughly disinfected m the manner described, as also tho hands, and everything that has been m contact 1 srith the diseased bees or their hive, Tho passing of this Act will tend to aid those who go \a extensively for bee culture to keep their swarms strong and healthy, as perhaps their neighbors with diseased bees may communicate , .with tbe clean hives and destroy a whole lojoay. It is necessary that tbe industry should be prfli^cfedj and though we do not hear of any disease ua jthis district, ifc appears necessary that should it wkafce its appasrance those who keep hives should know whatfeer they are subject to disease or not.