250 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the different States, with field employees '©f the extension service, 

 and all other available observers, by which undue increase of any 

 insect pest is immediately reported to this bureau, in order that knowl- 

 edge of prospective outbreaks should be first centralized and then 

 distributed to bring about the promptest and most efficacious meas- 

 ures. In this way the almost daily condition of the principal crops 

 of the country in regard to injurious insects is thoroughly well known 

 for the entire country. This information has been brought together 

 and issued to the economic entomologists of the country in the form 

 of manifold emergency circulars published at the end of each month. 

 While it is impossible to estimate in any way the value of this service, 

 there can be no doubt that it is well worth while and that it has been 

 of a very considerable monetary value. 



BEE-CULTURE INVESTIGATIONS. 



This work has continued under the supervision of Dr. E. F. Phillips, 



The export demand for honey has increased greatly since the 

 beginning of the European war, indicating that honey has ceased to 

 be a luxury in the minds of the allied peoples. During the last half 

 of the year honey was exported to the value of perhaps $2,000,000, 

 about ten times the valuation of the export of honey for any year 

 before the beginning of the war. The home demand for honey has 

 also increased, but it is difficult to give any figures for this, as much 

 of the honey of the country never reaches the larger centers of trade. 

 As a result of these two demands the price of honey has risen to the 

 highest figures recorded for many years, but during 1918 this has 

 been influenced by the fact that there was a heavy loss of bees during 

 the previous winter, resulting in a decrease in production in the 

 eastern United States, This increase in price has acted as the great- 

 est possible stimulus to the industry to increase production, the very 

 thing which is so greatly needed if the industry is to do its share in 

 the prosecution of the war. It is therefore safe to predict that the 

 coming year will see the greatest effort ever made in furthering 

 beekeeping. 



The United States Food Administration has been of great help to 

 the beekeepers in expediting shipments of honey and supplies for 

 beekeeping, and especially in granting permits to beekeepers to buy 

 sugar for feeding their bees where this was necessary. 



The Bureau of Markets of this department has continued the issu- 

 ing of the semimonthly market reports, and this has made it possible 

 for the first time for the producer to get truthful information regard- 

 ing the honey markets. This alone has been one of the chief factors 

 making it feasible for this bureau to encourage beekeepers to increase 

 their production. The continuation of the crop reports of the Bu- 

 reau of Crop Estimates has also been of importance in this crisis in 

 the industry. 



The United States Fuel Administration was of service in permit- 

 ting the chief factories for the manufacture of beekeeping supplies 

 to run on fuelless days and in supplying one of these factories with 

 coal at a serious time. The Post Office Department recently ruled 

 that bees without combs may be shipped by parcel post, a ruling 

 which materially helps in the proper distribution of bees whenever 

 there is a serious loss m any part or the country. 



