February, '17] PHILI.IPS: APIARY INSPECTION 209 



simply be recorded that the records for 1916 show 3,898 colonies in- 

 spected, of which 7.05 per cent showed European foulbrood and 0.15 

 per cent showed American foulbrood. European foulbrood was found 

 in 18.8 per cent of the apiaries and American foulbrood in 1.07 per 

 cent. 



Obviously, changes in inspection policy and the routine methods of 

 the work will influence these figures. For example, in Connecticut 

 inspection was formerly done only on complaint and this restriction 

 has been removed. However, from the figures given for these four 

 states there can be no doubt of the economic value of the apiary in- 

 spection. 



It will be noticed that in the four states chosen the apiary inspection 

 is under the supervision of a central office, in three cases that of the 

 entomologist. In making a study of the available data to obtain 

 material for this paper, the records were studied of a number of states 

 where this supervision is lacking. In no such case did such a benefit 

 appear as in the cases chosen. Usually the data are more faulty. 

 There is not observed such a consistent gain, and in some cases no gain 

 whatever is observed. Therefore, it must be admitted that the in- 

 stances chosen are not truly representative. It is not known whether 

 the best records have been chosen, but they are certainly among the 

 best. The data must therefore be interpreted as showing what can 

 be done under good management. Every effort should be made to 

 improve the inspection service in some of the states and this can, per- 

 haps, best be done by publication of the results of inspection, as was 

 recommended at the last meeting of this section. The inspection must 

 also be improved by dicontinuing, so far as possible, the payment of 

 inspectors only for days spent in the work, which too often means for 

 days when they are not otherwise occupied. 



The title chosen for this paper may be assumed to be covered by the 

 type of data given, but at this opportunity it may be well to enlarge 

 the discussion by way of pointing out a method of overcoming some 

 present defects. As is well known, the Bureau of Entomology has 

 during the year begun extension work in beekeeping, in cooperation 

 with the regular extension offices. So far this work is confined to the 

 Southern States. When it is considered that the value of inspection 

 comes chiefly from the efficiency of the educational feature of the work, 

 it will be seen that, in a sense, extension work is but a continuation of 

 what has been done for years in some states. However, an extension 

 worker is freed from the odium of police power, which is at times a 

 detriment to the inspection work. Since in perhaps half the states the 

 apiary inspection is below its possible efficiency, and, since without 

 unwarranted interference this cannot well be changed, except by the 



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