TWENTY-NINTH REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 31 



the absence of the wax moth, territory in Montana may be very 

 easily infected with American foulbrood. Swarms in trees and rock 

 ledges become infected and die out. In turn the combs are robbed, 

 another swarm takes possession, stores a little honey and the story 

 is repeated. How permanent these reservoirs of infection are is 

 only a conjecture. But the adage is well illustrated that swarm 

 control is disease control. 



Various measures have been tried by beekeepers to avoid in- 

 fection from the territory — package bees, winter locations, crop 

 locations and bee-tree hunting. The most promising solution 

 appears to be the use of disease-resistant bees in locations where 

 disease is frequently picked up. 



UTILIZATION OF MONTANA'S BEEKEEPING RESOURCES 



The Montana apiculture laws vest the State Entomologist 

 with an unusual authority: 



"Before a permit for the movement of bees into the State 

 may be granted, it shall be determined by the State Entomologist 

 that the territory to which movement is requested shall not be 

 over-crowded and such movement shall not be detrimental to 

 the best interests of the beekeeping industry. Beekeepers shall 

 be notified of any request for the movement of additional bees 

 and equipment into their established territory and shall have 

 thirty days in which to enter any protest or reason why this 

 permit shall not granted. 



"The State Entomologist may in his discretion authorize 

 permits for the shipment of bees on combs into Montana." 



This is a historic clause because, though only indirect, it 

 grants legal authority to recognize a commercial beekeeper's ethic- 

 al right to keep bees in a certain place to the exclusion of certain 

 other commercial beekeepers. It is the beekeeper's effort to sac- 

 rifice some liberty and thereby gain some security. 



Overstocking of western territory has frequently resulted 

 in a demoralizing influence on the industry. In few businesses 

 are the operators in more direct and complete competition with 

 each other. When beekeepers have to compete for territory fric- 

 tion often develops which may lead to criminal malpractices. 

 There are some signs of actual overstocking of territory in certain 

 parts of the State. If Montana is the best beekeeping territory in 

 America (as the U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics reports) it 

 is only natural that Montana beekeepers are jealous of their terri- 

 tory. All of the beekeeping industry is located in the narrow irri- 

 gated valleys which embrace 1.5 per cent of Montana's total area, or 

 an area approximately equivalent to the State of Delaware. Hence 

 her beekeeping resources are not unlimited. That limit may not 

 be known until it is exceeded. 



