No. 5. 



DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



93 



one case did the disease reappear after treatment, and in only one 

 other case did the treatment fail to effect a cure. 



As the bees are so positively essential in the great plan of nature 

 for the fertilization of blossoms and the setting of fruits, it can be 

 seen that their value to this State amounts to hundreds of thou- 

 sands, or even millions of dollars in an indirect manner for the own- 

 ers of fruit trees, as well as directly to the bee-keepers for the honey 

 they produce. Pennsylvania, as next to the greatest fruit producing 

 State of the Union, can not afford to be without her bees. Promi- 

 nent fruit growers keep bees in their orchards for the purpose of 

 performing their natural and important function of cross fertilizing 

 the blossoms and insuring the setting of the fruit. Contrary to the 

 popular opinion, bees are not injurious or obnoxious in cutting into 

 fruits or grapes. They only suck out the juices from damaged fruits. 

 The causes of this injury may be various, but the bees themselves 

 are not able to puncture the skin of the grape, and, in fact, may 

 render a valuable service to grape growers by sucking dry the broken 

 fruits, which otherwise would wilt and cause decay of the pulp. 



There is no doubt of the tremendous value of the honey bee, and 

 of the great justification for the State of Pennsylvania to provide 

 well for the apiary inspection service. There have not yet been 

 funds enough provided for inspecting more than one per cent, of the 

 bees of this Commonwealth, and as the diseases mentioned above 

 are virulent in their action and quick in their spread, it is important 

 that an increased appropriation be made for this purpose, and that 

 the work of the inspectors and demonstrators be continued along 

 this line. The tabulated report of the apiary inspection for the year 

 is as follows: 



♦Reappeared. 



tAll dead. 



C4 other than Fonl Brood. 35 f. b. 

 §Moth. P'oul Brood. 



LECTURES 



The calls made by the public upon the Economic Zoologist for 

 addresses or lectures are really far more than one man can meet, 

 especially when he is busily engaged in office work. The indoor 

 demands of the office are such as to require as much energy and 

 effort as ordinarily would be expected of one individual with his of- 

 fice assistance, and the outside service means living at higher ten- 



