No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 405 



Other plants have both pistils and stamens on the same flower. It 

 may seem unnecessary that in this case any cross pollinization should 

 take place. Nature has, however, provided that in order that species 

 may not degenerate, in many cases, the pollen of any given flower 

 does not fertilize the pistil of the same flower. This is due to the fact 

 that pistil and stamen do not coincide in their time of ripening and 

 thus depend on the pollen being brought from other blossoms. The 

 bee is the best pollenator known, ever ready to perform his work for 

 what he gathers by the way. He is the best answer to the fruit 

 grower's problems as to what varieties or how he shall plant in order 

 that perfect pollination may take place. 



DISEASES OF BEES 



The great importance of this subject will perhaps suffice as an 

 apology or a partial repetition of a former report. Of the reports 

 received during the year, three diseases are mentioned as prevalent: 

 Dysentery, American Foul Brood and European Foul Brood. The 

 first named was previously discussed. It is not infectious and can 

 largely be prevented by the wide-awake beekeeper. The last two men- 

 tioned diseases are infectious and destroy colonies by attacking and 

 killing the brood. These diseases are so widespread that they are the 

 cause of alarm. Whole apiaries have been destroyed before the cause 

 was known. It is impossible to keep it out of an apiary when others 

 nearby have apiaries that are diseased. A single drop of honey robbed 

 and carried from a diseased colony will infect a whole apiary. From 

 recent reports to the Division of Apiculture, Washington, D. C, 

 18 counties in the State have reported cases of American Foul Brood 

 and 29 counties European Foul Brood. Reports from all the counties 

 were not available so that other counties not heard from may 

 also have cases of the disease. 



The progressive beekeeper will control and stamp out the disease, 

 but it may be impossible to get all the beekeepers who have in- 

 fected colonies to treat them promptly and hence it is desirable 

 and necessary that the State pass laws that will provide for in- 

 spection of apiaries and give power to Inspectors to compel care- 

 less beekeepers to treat diseased colonies. It is the only remedy that 

 is efficient in stamping out the diseases. In a large number of states 

 laws have been passed and the results have been satisfactory. 



With proper control of bee diseases and with the proper study and 

 manipulation, this State has large possibilities and opportunities 

 for the beekeeper. While but few localities will support possibly 

 more than seventy-five to one hundred colonies, one can travel for 

 miles without finding a single colony of bees. There are thousands of 

 blossoms everywhere unvisited, and safe to say, tons of honey wasted. 



It would be as unwise to advise every one to become beekeepers as 

 it would to follow any other one occupation. There are those who 

 specialize in apiary work and not only make a living but lay up a 

 snug sum besides. To do this requires a certain adaptability, a 

 knowledge of the business, and constant study. However, it is not 

 necessary to specialize in order to succeed. Many farmers could 

 keep a few bees and have their table supplied with honey every day 

 in the year. The two interests are allied. Frequently the farmer 

 is a fruit grower to a greater or less extent and the bees by 

 their daily visits increase his yield of fruit. On the other hand, 



30—7—1010 



