42 



FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



standing in the yard for other bees to 

 clean out, but in reality it is left to 

 sprelid disease. In some cases old 

 combs have been left scattered around 

 until the Inspector made another visit 

 and told him he must be more thorough 

 and careful in cleaning up. 



Then still another visit must be 

 made to see that it was done. Thus 

 one bee-keeper is claiming time of the 

 Inspector for work he himself should 

 do. 



• And these are the ones that are dis- 

 satisfied about not being rid of the 

 disease and think the Inspector is at 

 fault. 



I will give you a quotation from a 

 letter this fall: 



"You will remember I said there was 

 foul brood out in the country at Mr. 



M place. Well, I have forgotten 



what you advised. You told me how 

 you would handle them but I didn't 

 pay attention enough to recall it." 



In this case the diseased apiary did 

 not belong to the writer but from their 

 writing I would say there are many 

 bee-keepers in the state just that in- 

 different concerning their own apiaries. 



But in contrast to this we have the 

 bee-keeper who is ki^ earnest, is fair 

 to himself and his neighbor bee-keep- 

 ers, and is on the watch, and when the 

 Inspector visits his yard he is all at- 

 tention and ready to follow out instruc- 

 tions. 



A quotation from a letter written the 

 Inspector by one of the deputies will 

 sustain this statement: 



"I have been inspecting in Vermilion 

 County, around Westville, Danville, 

 Georgetown, etc. Your work there two 

 and three years ago seems to have 

 borne good fruit. The men yovf had 

 visited knew about disease, and I 

 could find no trace of it in their 

 apiaries." 



The work of the Inspector and the 

 bee-keepers is very closely connected 

 in eradicating foul brood. 



The Inspector should have knowledge 

 concerning the bees and bee diseases, 

 as well as be able to study human 

 nature. For they certainly should 

 know how to handle men as well as 

 bees, if they make a success of the 

 work. Again, they must be honest and 

 considerate and work for the best in- 

 terest of the bee industry; should be 

 willing to give instructions and advice 



as to the best methods of treatment 

 and even show by example how to pro- 

 ceed in cases of cleaning up diseased 

 colonies. 



In most cases where the bee-keeper 

 has faithfully co-operated with the In- 

 spectors in the endeavor to eradicate 

 the disease, the result has been success. 



But from reports from the various 

 parts of the state and in answer to 

 questions sent out, we find that, on ac- 

 count of indifference and lack of knowl- 

 edge of the bee-keepers, the Inspectors 

 must keep close watch of affected dis- 

 tricts. 



Now here is where the bee-keeper 

 should get in his work. 



After having the disease pointed out 

 to him h'e should give attention to it, 

 follow out instructions in treating; be 

 careful and painstaking; keep tab of 

 all colonies affected and be ready to 

 report to the Inspector what method 

 of treatment was used and the present 

 condition of his apiary. 



Now, if we give the proper study to 

 the bee periodicals and co-operate with 

 the Inspectors and men versed in bee 

 diseases, we may obtain knowledge so 

 that every careful and intelligent bee- 

 keeper may be able to detect and clean 

 up foul brood himself w'ithout expect- 

 ing the Inspector to call at his place 

 every month or six weeks. 



If every bee-keeper in the state of 

 Illinois took the precaution to look 

 after his own apiary and do thorough 

 work in it, the disease of foul brood 

 would soon be a thing of the past. 



MRS. A. L. KILDOW. 



President Baxter — This paper, or the 

 thoughts expressed in it, have been 

 discussed already. Now if there is any 

 further discussion we would be pleased 

 to hear it.. 



Mr. Kildow — It seems to me that 

 these papers that are read ought to be 

 discussed, because that is where we get 

 our knowledge in the bee business; 

 and, if there is any point that comes up 

 that it is desired be explained, don't 

 be afraid to ask about it; it may be 

 some little thing that some one will 

 give that will help us, and we ought to 

 discuss these papers thoroughly. 



President Baxter — This paper has al- 

 ready been discussed under your report, 

 so I don't think very much more can 

 be said. 



