Bee Paralysis

Mr. McF., referring to his journal, said that,
in 1889, he received several queens from Mr.
Root; but the one which arrived on the 25th of
July was the one to which he traced his troubles.
It was her progeny that first showed
signs of the disease. The disease, however,
did not become virulent until 1892. That season
the apiary numbered 60 colonies, from which
were obtained 9000 lbs. of honey. The apiary
was increased to 102. In 1893 the bees died off
so rapidly that no honey was produced; and at
the present time there are about 20 hives that
have bees In them, or, as Mr. McF. says,
not enough bees to make 5 good colonies and
still dying. The queens seemed to lay rapidly,
and young bees hatch; but about the time they
were old enough to fly, the disease would take
hold of them, and the mortality was so great
that double handfuls of bees could be taken up
In front or the hives. The entrances would
also become clogged with the rapidly dying
bees. The few remaining hives in the apiary
gave us a chance to see the results, and nearly
all of the bees in front of the hives had the appear-
ance of healthy bees, and only a very few
had that shiny look which so often gives warning
of the disease. Further inquiry revealed
the fact that, after the preliminary stages of
the disease had developed in 1890, queens were
purchased by Mr. M. and by Mr. Douse, from
Doolittle, Trego, Mrs. Atchley, and others.

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