294 L^WS THAT CONCERN THE BEE-KEEPER 



official and is usually appointed by the governor. The office thus 

 becomes a political appointment and is subject to the dangers 

 of such a system. If a competent man is placed in charge the 

 results are likely to be satisfactory but he is never so free in the 

 discharge of his duties as officers whose appointment depends 

 solely upon efficiency. It frequently happens that men who 

 know little about bees and less about foul brood will have dis- 

 ease in the apiary and will refuse to be convinced of its real 

 nature. The enmity of such men is likely, to be a heavy liability 

 when the official asks for reappointment. If, perchance, the 

 governor is a man who is more interested in his own political 

 future than in the welfare of the State he will be slow to reap- 

 point men who have antagonized any considerable element. 



If an inspector is reasonable and diplomatic he can disarm 

 much of the antagonism but it is impossible for any man in this 

 work to please everybody and do his full duty. 



Under State Entomologist. — In several States the State 

 entomologist is given supervision of bee inspection. This should 

 give better results than a political appointment, especially in 

 those States where the entomologist is an official of the agricul- 

 tural experiment station. 



Department of Agricultural College. — The various States 

 are rapidly adding bee culture to the departments of the agri- 

 cultural colleges. The best results are likely to result from 

 placing the bee inspection under direction of the head of the 

 department of bee-keeping. His position is such that an ineffi- 

 cient man will not be placed in charge and the work can be 

 organized in connection with the school in a very satisfactory 

 manner. ]\Iassachusetts and Ontario follow this plan. 



County Inspectors. — Several States have adopted the county 

 system of inspection. In these States the county board may 

 appoint a county bee inspector on petition of a certain prescribed 

 number of bee-keepers. The official is thus accountable to the 

 local officials and receives his pay from county funds. Cali- 

 fornia adopted this plan many years ago and still retains it. 



