BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 327 



In connection with the wintering work several years ago, it was 

 found that the darker grades of honey are not as a rule as satisfac- 

 tory as lighter hone3's for winter stores. The grading of extracted 

 honeys according to color is also a serious problem in honey mar- 

 keting, and so far no satisfactory color grades have been established, 

 although several attempts have been made by private individuals. 

 An attempt to bring about a satisfactory grading is now being made, 

 in cooperation with the Office of Grades and Standards, Bureau 

 of Agricultural Economics. It is also hoped that typical samples 

 may be subjected to chemical analysis to determine to what extent 

 color is associated with undesirable characteristics for winter food. 

 The samples Avill also be examined to identify the pollen grains 

 contained in them, thus checking up the statements of those furnish- 

 ing the honeys as to the floral source. If these samples may be ade- 

 quately studied, it will constitute the most comprehensive investi- 

 gation of American honeys so far made. 



Diseases of bees. — The announcement of the cause of the Isle of 

 AVight disease of adult bees, made in December, 1920, b}^ Dr. James 

 Rennie and his associates, of Scotland, has greatly increased the 

 interest in the diseases of adult bees throughout the world. During 

 the sununer of 1921, as was stated in the last report, a study was 

 made to determine if possible whether the mite (Tarsonemus) 

 Acarapis woocV^ causing this disease, is present in the United States. 

 The results of the study were published as Circular 218 of the de- 

 partment. 



As a result of a conference, held March 9, 1922, a letter was written 

 to the Post Office Department recommending that the regulations 

 on foreign mails be amended to exclude queen bees and the accom- 

 panying Avorker bees from all foreign countries, except Canada. 

 The Dominion of Canada had also taken steps to prevent the im- 

 portation of all adult bees fpom Europe, and since there are no 

 known cases of the Isle of Wight disease in the Dominion, there 

 seemed no reason to prevent the free passage of bees between the 

 two countries. Similar quarantines are established in Australia, 

 Jamaica, and the Union of South Africa. Since the publication 

 of Circular 218, records have been published of the presence of the 

 disease in several parts of France, Switzerland, and Germany, and 

 new records of the disease appeared every month during the early 

 part of 1922. It is impossible at this time to predict the full dis- 

 tribution of the disease, and for the present it seems wise to prevent 

 the importation of all adult bees from all European countries. Con- 

 siderable work is now being done in Europe on this disease, and it 

 may be possible later to recommend a further change in the regula- 

 tions to permit importations from certain countries which are known 

 to be free of this serious disease. 



Following the conference on March 9, a bill was prepared for pres- 

 entation to Congress prohibiting the importation of of adult bees, 

 except for experimental purposes by the Federal Department of 

 Agriculture and except under rules and regulations made by the 

 Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Treasury to per- 

 mit the importations from countries known to be free of any disease 

 dangerous to adult bees. The bill was presented to both Ilouses of 

 Congress, and was passed by the House of Eepresentatives on June 5. 



25684— AGB 1923 22 



