196 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OflE. Doc. 



propriate funds for the purpose. A splendid apiary inspection law 

 existed, but no money was provided with which to carry out its pro- 

 visions. 



Many of the best beekeepers of the State were keenly disappointed. 

 At that time European foul brood was especially bad in several 

 counties, and reports shoAv that Xmerican foul brood was scarcely 

 less prevalent. The situation was alarming to those who knew con- 

 ditions best. Later investigations have proven that in the seasons 

 of 1911 and 1912, fully 90% of all the bees, in certain infected areas, 

 were lost b}^ the ravages of these diseases. Had the proper funds 

 been appropriated at that time, thousands of dollars worth of bees 

 and apiary fixtures might have been saved. Many beekeepers knew 

 that something was wrong with their bees and that they were dying 

 rapidly, but did not know the cause. The demands for help constantly 

 increased, but no funds were available to employ persons who were 

 familiar with bee diseases to make inspections. 



To meet the emergency, in the spring of 1912, Economic Zoologist 

 H. A. Surface asked for names of those who would volunteer their 

 services. Several beekeepers in various parts of tlie State responded. 

 Those appointed had successfully passed an examination in bee- 

 keeping, at Lancaster, on December 1, 1911. This examination was 

 given by Prof. Surface in connection with the Annual Meeting of 

 the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers' Association. These voluntary 

 inspectors received not one cent for their time, expenses or services. 



For a furtber account of the voluntary inspection work, see Zoologi- 

 cal Bulletin, Vol. Ill, No. 2, March, 191.3. The following table, 

 taken from that bulletin, gives the work done by these volunteer in- 

 spectors. The map shows approximately the territory covered by 

 them in 1912. 



