No. 123.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 65 



Conclusions and Recommendations. 



That considerable good has been accompUshed by the apiary 

 inspection will be evident to one who has read the above 

 figures. American foul brood has ceased to be as prevalent 

 as in former years, while there are also far fewer cases of 

 European foul brood. That this may be the result of in- 

 spection is indicated by the prevalence of disease in localities 

 which have been necessarily neglected for a few years, such 

 as the section near Framingham and the northeastern part of 

 Essex County. 



Other neglected localities should be taken care of as soon 

 as possible after the known infections are under control. Bad 

 conditions will doubtless be discovered in such places. While 

 the tendency has been to take care of the known infections, 

 and to allow the unknown places to go without inspection, 

 this should not go on indefinitely, as brood diseases will be 

 allowed to run their course if not watched periodically. An 

 attempt should be made to cover the whole State and to fol- 

 low" this up by regular inspections in such places as are found 

 to demand it. 



In many cases it has been found that ignorance of the 

 methods of disease prevention and control is responsible for 

 the loss of a large number of colonies. Demonstration of pre- 

 ventive and control measures by the inspector has often 

 insured the beekeeper against further loss. It is therefore 

 recommended that inspectors make demonstrations among 

 beekeepers who are able to profit by them. In apiaries where 

 disease persistently appears in spite of such assistance, it is 

 recommended that the apiary inspection law be strictly en- 

 forced if negligence on the beekeeper's part is apparent. 



Since the abandonment of the courses of instruction in bee- 

 keeping at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, there has 

 been little educational work for the benefit of beekeepers of 

 the State, except such information as the inspectors could 

 dispense on their visits. It appears to the writer of this report 

 that there is a demand for such educational work, particularly 

 in the form of lectures and public demonstrations of beekeeping 

 methods. Improvement of beekeeping methods will facilitate 



