JOURNAL 



OF 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



OFFICIAL ORGAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS 



Vol. 14 AUGUST, 1921 No. 4 



THE FUTURE OF BEE DISEASE CONTROL 



By E. F. Phillips, Washington, D. C. 



Discussions as to the best form of state activity in the control of the 

 diseases of bees are frequent, and obviously not all the states are utilizing 

 the best plan, since there is so much variation in the operations in the 

 several states. These discussions of methods are usually for one of 

 three purposes here given in the order of prominence in the discussions : 

 (1) to obtain uniformity of laws and methods in order that better cooper- 

 ation between the states may be brought about; (2) to obtain more 

 efficient work in disease control; (3) to make the bee disease control 

 work fit in with the modem trend with work which has similar objects. 

 It seems best to review the whole subject in order to arrive, if possible, 

 at a policy which can be uniform, efficient and modern. 



To understand the problem fully it is necessary that we briefly review 

 its history along several lines. The earliest laws usually provided for 

 the appointment of an experienced beekeeper by the governor of the 

 state or by some court. This is quite obviously not the best plan for it 

 can scarcely be expected that these officials will be sufficiently conversant 

 with the needs of beekeeping to appoint the right men to these offices. 

 In spite of the good examples of men so appointed which may easily be 

 offered, the plan is a poor one in principle and was poor in many cases in 

 practice. 



To remedy this defect a quiet campaign was begun some ten years or 

 more ago to provide for different appointing power. It was obviously 

 desirable that the appointing official shall have certain administrative 

 functions, so that he might know that the person appointed is doing good 

 work. The control of a brood disease requires a wide acquaintance with 



