Diseases of bees / Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of bees / Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/36 (page 16)
    Frow MIXTURE Nitrobenzene .... whe a 2 DLO lee uae ®, I parts by volume Ligroin (or ordinary petrol) 6 2 J ‘“ Special ’’ brands of petrol of high volatility or special mixtures should not be used. Note that the mixture is poisonous and highly inflammable and must be handled with care. MODIFIED FRow MIXTURE Unfortunately owing to present conditions Safrol is in short supply, but it has been found that the following mixture containing methyl salicylate instead of Safrol can be used in its place with good results. Experience seems to indicate, however, that treatment with the modified Frow mixture is not quite so effective as that with the original Frow mixture containing Safrol. INTO benzene ‘oe hase 6 Methyl reat ae ar 2 parts by volume Dieroines aa 3 5 APPLICATION. ‘The method of applying the Frow mixture or the modified Frow mixture is as follows: Distribute half a drachm (30 minims) of the mixture drop by drop over the flannel or cotton-wool pad. This pad is then either placed directly on a piece of perforated zinc placed directly over the feed hole in the crown-board or quilt of the hive or, alternatively, pushed in through the entrance of the hive on a small piece of wire so that it comes to lie near the back of the floorboard. With the treatment over the feedhole a saucer or an empty jam jar can with advantage be inverted over the pad to ensure that the vapour passes downwards into the hive. When the treatment is from the floorboard it is a good idea to have previously placed an empty shallow super below the broodchamber. This super should not be removed until the colony is examined in the following spring. Both methods of applying the Frow or modified Frow mixture are equally satisfactory, but in either case care must be taken not to disturb the cluster. The 30-minim dose is repeated on the same pad every other day until seven doses have been given. The pad should be left in the hive for ten days after applying the last dose and then removed. Under conditions where it is not possible to pay repeated visits to the colonies to be treated, a single dose of 75 minims can be given and the pad removed 21 days later. In this event the treatment is best applied early in February. (3) THe MeTHYL SALICYLATE TREATMENT. This method of treating a colony of bees either because it is known to be infected with Acarine disease, or as a precautionary measure against this disease, has in trials extending over several years proved to be extremely effective. It is essentially a treat- ment for the warmer months of the year, low winter temperatures greatly reducing its efficacy. This treatment, unlike treatment with the Frow mixture, has not been found to lead to robbing and it does not harm the brood, interfere with the normal working of the colony, or taint any honey that may be gathered during treatment.