120 Ninth Annual Report of the 



Third Division — Allegany, Chemung, Cortland, Fulton, Hamil- 

 ton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Schuyler, Steu- 

 ben, Tioga, Tompkins. — Charles Stewart, Agent, Sammonsville, 

 N. Y. 



Fourth Division — Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, 

 Franklin, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis," Livingston, Monroe, 

 Niagara, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Seneca, St. Law- 

 rence, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates. — -Mortimer Stevens, Agent, 

 Pennellville, N. Y. 



A summary of the work shows that the number of apiaries 

 examined was 905, embracing 25,065 colonies; 487 apiaries, or 

 54 per cent, were diseased. This number of apiaries embraced 

 3,451 colonies, 614 of which were destroyed; the remainder were 

 subjected to remedial treatment, and wherever properly and 

 carefully done resulted in saving the colonies and placing them 

 on a paying basis. 



Early in the season 248 colonies were found dead as a result 

 of starving or smothering over the winter of 1900-1901. We 

 concluded that the work of the agents in the apiaries was effec- 

 tive in checking the spread of bee diseases from the fact that 

 we find in 1900 24 per cent of the colonies of bees in the State 

 were diseased and only 14 per cent in 1901. 



The diseases found as reportd by the agents of the Depart- 

 ment are " foul brood " {Bacillus alvei), " black brood " (Bacillus 

 millA) and " pickle brood." 



Of these bacterial diseases the black brood is the most malig- 

 nant and contagious, and whenever found should have prompt 

 and thorough attention; weak colonies should be condensed and 

 strengthened; infected colonies destroyed, together with all 

 appurtenances, as no diseased material should be accessible to 

 healthy bees. 



1 am pleased to report that no outbreak of disease has been 

 discovered in auy section of the State outside of the infested 

 sections reported last year. 



In order to meet the exigencies that arise in this work I sug- 

 gest that wherever the words " foul brood " appear in the law 



