104 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the winter of 1919 land 1920 schools were held in thirty-nine counties in 

 cooperation with the county agents and with Mr. Edwin Ewell, Exten- 

 sion Specialists in Beekeeping. A regular program was made up cover- 

 ing the work of two days and the same program was given in eacli 

 county. Only those matters were discussed which were considered fund- 

 amental in beekeeping practice and applicable to beekeeping throughout 

 the State. It is felt that a great deal of good was done. At the present 

 time there are on file applications for a large number of schools to be 

 held during tlie coming winter. It is felt that the educational work 

 which is carried on is fully as iuiportant and often of greater value 

 than actual inspection woik. However, the one would not be complete 

 witliont the other. 



At the beginning of tlie present fiscal year all deputies were instructed 

 to enforce the law relative to illegal hives. Large placards were sent out 

 two years before giving tlie beekeepers instructions relative to the law 

 and warning them that the law would be enforced after July first 1919. 

 As a result many hundreds and ])robably thousands of colonies were 

 transferred from the old boxes and log gums into modern hives. This 

 marks a decided forward step in Michigan beekeeping. 



The last winter is considered by the older beekee]>ers as the most 

 severe from a beekeeping standpoint that we have had in the last thirty- 

 five years. The southern half of the loAver i)eninsula suffered more than 

 the northern part of the State. Thousands of beekeepers lost all of their 

 bees. It has been estimated that 909^ of the bees belonging to the so- 

 called "farmer beekeepers'' died. The professional beekeepers did not 

 suffer nearly so great a loss, due doubtless to the better care which they 

 gave their colonies. Possibly the State as a whole lost nearly 50% of 

 its bees. This spring has been quite favorable for the rapid building up 

 of colonies and by fall a large part of the losses will be made up. How- 

 ever, probably several thousand persons have given up beekeepking. This 

 is a gain for the industry as it leaves the bees in the hands of persons 

 who are interested in the bees and who will give them the care they 

 require. 



The following is the financial statement for the fiscal vear ending 

 June ao, 1920: 



Salaries of State Inspector and Deputies spr>,047.r»0 



Stenographer 300.00 



Traveling Expenses 2,893.57 



Stationery, postage, printing, etc 425 S5 



Equipment and furniture 145.28 



Supplies 20.00 



Returned to the State 321 .04 



Total amount appropriated .?1 0,100.00 



During the year the following queen breeders' apiaries have been in- 

 spected and have been given certificates for the sale of (pieens: 



D. A. Davis, Birmingham. 

 M. H. Hunt, Bedford. 



J. H. Hanghey, Berrien Springs. 



E. E. :Mott, Glenwood. 



