BULLETIN 166.1 [JUNE, 1908. 



Ontario Department of Agriculture. 



HORTICULTURAL BRANCH. 



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BEE-KEEPING IN ONTARIO. 



The information contained in this report has been taken from answers 

 to questions sent out in a circular to all the bee-keepers of the Province, 

 dated May 15th, 1908. While the Province has been fairly well covered 

 by the reports received, there were over 1,500 bee-keepers who did not 

 return the blanks sent to them. Until a greater proportion of those 

 engaged in the industry take enough interest to answer the few questions 

 asked, it will be impossible for the Department of Agriculture to prepare 

 as full and accurate a report as is desired. 



Of the reports received, only 10 per cent, answered that the industry 

 was carried on at all extensively, and this percentage is perhaps high, as 

 in some cases, more than one individual so reported in the same vicinity. 

 Others noted that while the business was once in a flourishing condition, 

 the losses of the past two years had made a material change, and that 

 now few large apiaries were left, while the smaller ones were in many 

 cases wiped out of existence. The census report of 1901 gave the Pro- 

 vince a total of 116,403 colonies, but from the information at hand, this 

 total for the present year must be decreased at least 33 per cent, to cover 

 the heavy loss of 1907 and 1908. These changes will doubtless tend to 

 keep up prices for the better quality of honey, and those who have any 

 bees left should give them special attention, as the natural increase and 

 the surplus honey gathered will both prove sources of profit at the pre- 

 sent time. 



Very little disease was reported. While the percentage of dysentery 

 seems high, in every case the correspondent stated that the attack was 

 slight, generally occurring in only one or two hives in an apiary. Of the 

 instances where foul brood was reported, in only two cases was the attack 

 a severe one. European Foul Brood has appeared in the vicinity of Tren- 

 ton in rather a virulent form, and has caused heavy losses in two apiaries. 



The work of the six Inspectors appointed last year has shown itself 

 favorably in the reports received, and the decrease in the disease has been 

 evident. This year, the Province has been divided somewhat differently 

 and the Inspectors' names with their districts are as follows : — 



W. A. Chrysler, Chatham : Counties of Essex, Kent and Lambton. 



John Newton, Thamesford : Counties of Elgin and Middlesex. 



D. Chalmers, Poole : Counties of Perth and Huron. 



Jas. Armstrong, Cheapside : Counties of Norfolk, Oxford, Waterloo 

 and Wellington. 



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