POINTS TO PONDER - FOULBROOD

Losing colonies to foulbrood is one of the most agonizing events in the life of a beekeeper. The feeling of loss is overwhelming. As fire consumes and exposes the inner parts of the hive, honey and wax drain away. The brood becomes exposed and turns from a pearly white to a toasted brown and then chars black. Riverlets of pure, clean wax run out of the fire, lasting a short while as a final reminder of the life, purity and value going to waste. Soon the flames grow and all is consumed. All of the equipment, all of the hours of work, all of the waiting for the right flow to build comb and all of the dead bees tumbling out of the box - it all comes to mind in a pang of sadness and regret as it goes up in flame.