Control or eradication of American foulbrood and other diseases is insured by frequent inspection and careful management.

Confining a queen to a definite and well inspected brood chamber does much to minimize the spread and danger from American foulbrood. At the same time, through having a clear brood nest the queen consistently has more room for egg laying than she would have if free and in danger of being crowded out of one brood nest into another without such being the intent of the operator.

In the let alone method, where the brood nest is not inspected at regular intervals as a regular part of the system of management, and, if the colony appears normal, is often not inspected at all unless a law requires inspection for American foulbrood, this disease often gains a serious hold before the beekeeper is aware of it. But in a clear brood nest system where the brood nest is inspected frequently, at least twice in the spring as a part of management routine, American foulbrood, if present, should be discovered when only a few cells are affected.

The clear brood nest method can be confidently recommended where American foulbrood is a menace. Those who use this method and promptly burn the few diseased colonies they discover may expect to suffer but little loss from this disease, even though it is prevalent in neighboring apiaries.

With the let alone system a brood chamber containing some American foulbrood may be abandoned and the queen may establish a new brood nest in another part of the hive. The first brood chamber may then become filled with honey without the operator being aware that American foulbrood was present, and such filled combs may be saved for winter stores, scattering infection and creating a mysterious outbreak of disease which the beekeeper usually charges to some other source than his own carelessness. With free queens, also, brood is likely to be scattered throughout the hive, with no uniformity in different colonies, thus making the discovery of disease difficult and creating additional dangers when super combs are shifted from one colony to another, as they often are after the honey is extracted.

It is possible, also, that some cells containing American foulbrood scales may be sealed over part way down in the cells, particularly if they are in what were originally thin brood combs which later were put into supers having eight or nine frames; some cells may then be continued on top of the old cappings, new honey put in the outer half of the cells, and the cells again sealed over. When these combs are uncapped and extracted, honey may be thrown out of the outer half of the cells while the inner capping may remain with American foulbrood material under it, the beekeeper having no knowledge that, deep down in the comb, hidden away under those old cappings are American foulbrood scales. Sometimes when robbing occurs, or in a dearth of honey, this dangerous stuff may be uncovered and disease develop without any apparent explanation, even many years after an apiary was supposed to be free of it. Any beekeeper who examines "empty" combs with sufficient care is likely to find these hidden cappings. He does not know what may be hidden there, deep in the cell. This is a good argument in favor of destroying all combs from colonies having American foulbrood instead of trying to sterilize and save them.

Disease Resistant Bees*-Recent research has established the fact that some honeybees are more or less resistant to bee diseases. Some bees are found to be resistant in varying degrees to American foulbrood long considered the worst of the bee diseases. Experiments on the part of the American Bee Journal, the Iowa Experimental Station and the Federal Government in cooperation with several of the states have determined many of the factors associated with so-called resistance. An attempt is being made now to perpetuate the resistant character of the best bees in the research effort and to furnish breeders

*Appendix - 8.

from certified stock to the queen breeders of the South under a control which will guarantee to beekeepers that the resistant stock they buy will have a high degree of ability to withstand American foulbrood.

When obtained from such sources, this stock is reliable and will give considerable relief from this disease.

It must not be assumed, however, that the use of resistant stock will in itself constitute a perfect cure for disease at all times and in all places. The beekeeper may use it with a reasonable assurance that he will not have as high a proportion of disease as he might with other bees. However, the apiarist should continue the caution which long habit has established and whenever disease is found in a colony, that colony should be destroyed, since it in itself is a susceptible stock and should not be perpetuated.

One of the difficulties that has been experienced with resistant stock has been its mixed racial character. This is, however, rapidly being eliminated and bees are already developed which have good markings, fair temper and in some cases exceptional honey producing ability.

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