April, '09] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 117 



entomologist can do with little work. He can soon learn to diagnose 

 American foul brood and most cases of European foul brood. In case 

 of doubt, the Bureau of Entomology will be glad to make bacteriolog- 

 ical examinations. The examination of samples not only is the means 

 of identifying samples for bee keepers who do not know the diseases, 

 but publications may be sent out or recommended giving methods of 

 treatment. 



It need not be pointed out that Farmers ' Institutes are an important 

 factor in agricultural education. The state entomologist may, with- 

 out great effort, see to it that talks on bee keeping are included in the 

 institutes, either by himself if he feels able to do it or by some good 

 practical bee keeper. There is an element of danger in this work 

 which should be mentioned. Bee keeping is not an industry in which 

 every one can engage with profit and Farmers' Institute talks should 

 not be of such a nature as to induce great numbers to take up the 

 work. They should aim to make better bee keepers of those now in 

 the business and encourage only careful persons to begin it. Any 

 other procedure will lead to grave disappointment. The state ento- 

 mologist may well exercise a little supervision over these talks to 

 eliminate wild nature-faking, which is too often a fault with bee talks. 



In traveling about the state the entomologist often has opportunity 

 to give out information on bees and to get information of value to 

 other bee keepers. It would be better if he could give out informa- 

 tion himself in person or in letters or bulletins, but. if not. he can 

 put the bee keepers in touch with the Bureau of Entomology\ 



A METHOD OF SECURING APICULTURAL STATISTICS 



By Burton N. Gates, Washington, D. C. 



Until recently, the only source of statistical information on api- 

 culture has been the Federal Census ; but, unfortunately, this is found 

 incomprehensive. It fails to strike to the root of the industry and 

 to give fundamental information, as for instance, on the prevalence of 

 bee diseases, prevailing methods and implements, progressiveness in 

 certain sections of the country, enemies and like economic pro])lems. 

 Such things the one who is attempting to promote apiculture must 

 know. They are also of interest to the bee keeper, who cannot be en- 

 lightened by the Census Reports. IMoreover, there is considerable evi- 

 dence that the data presented in the Census Reports does not ade- 

 quately picture the importance and magnitude of the industry. The 



