18 P.D. 123 



present condition approaches that of the western part of the State as heretofore 

 reported. The chief disease encountered is American foulbrood, European foul- 

 brood having been nearly wiped out, some factors being mentioned below. More 

 than ever before, it is apparent that American foulbrood is a bee disease with 

 which the beekeeper should not experiment. Beekeepers are warned accordingly, 

 and are given a sheet of directions as prepared by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture with recommendation for the proper disposal, usually by burning of 

 American foulbrood. It is learned by experience throughout the country, that it is 

 not only safer, but frequently more economical, in the average apiary, to kill and 

 burn colonies diseased with American foulbrood. To an extent, varying according 

 to circumstances, hives and some other materials may be salvaged and disinfected. 



With European foulbrood, the experience of the last several years was borne out 

 in 1932, very few cases having been found in the State. This disease in this State 

 may now be considered negligible. Presumably, the bettered condition is due in 

 part to the more general use of Italian stock. Italians, especially certain strains of 

 this race, are relatively immune to European foulbrood. Beekeepers have been 

 urged for some years to use the improved Italian strains. 



With the bettered conditions found in the major part of the State, more intensive 

 inspection has become possible south of Boston. In this area the rigid inspection 

 methods outlined in the report of 1930 were used. No particularly infected area 

 was discovered, the disease being more or less general throughout the region. This 

 area will be reinspected in 1933 in an effort to further suppress the disease. It is 

 also hoped that funds will be available, whereby inspection can be extended beyond 

 the southern boundaries reached this year. Cooperation in inspection was obtained 

 with Connecticut in an effort to control conditions along the State boundary. A 

 similar arrangement will be desirable with New Hampshire, the proposal having 

 been made in 1932 to the Commissioner of Agriculture of that State. 



As heretofore reported, improved conditions in Worcester County and west, 

 appear to have been maintained. No serious outbreaks of disease occurred. The 

 few foci were quite local. With the funds available, it was possible to do a limited 

 amount of work in the central and western part of the State, with the more intensive 

 work confined to the eastern part. The policy which has been previously stated, of 

 gradually extending the inspection, from the west toward the east and south, leaves 

 an area in southern Bristol and Plymouth counties, and in Barnstable county, 

 where only Hmited recent inspections have been done. It is here that new and 

 intensive inspection should be undertaken in 1933. 



Inspector of Apiaries: Burton Noble Gates, Worcester. 



Deputy Apiary Inspectors: 

 Fred E. Challet, Northampton Howell Shuman, Billerica 



B. A. Hildreth, Sherborn John Van de Poele, Abington 



Ivan Rawson, Pittsfield 



White Pine Blister Rust Control 



In the spring examination of the white pine stock in the nurseries in Massa- 

 chusetts, the blister rust disease was found in only one nursery. In furtherance 

 of the departmental policy to assist in assuring the production of rust-free white 

 pine nursery stock, the environs of two commercial nurseries were rechecked, for 

 the purpose of ehminating any Ribes (currant or gooseberrj^ bushes) in these areas. 

 In these examinations, only one Ribes bush, an escaped red currant, was reported. 

 One nursery made apphcation for the issuance of a pine shipping permit prescribed 

 by Federal Plant Quarantine No. 63. The surroundings of this nurser>' were 

 checked and finally certified for such a permit. Control area permits for the ship- 

 ment of Ribes and white pines into Massachusetts, under the provisions of the 

 Federal quarantine, were issued to 62 individuals for the entry of Ribes fruit stock, 

 and to 16 persons for the entry of white pines. 



The Division was seriously handicapped during the 1932 season, by a 37% 

 reduction in the appropriation available for the cooperative control of the rust in 

 the white pine regions in the State. In spite of this reduction, the loyal efforts of 

 the personnel and the continued cooperation on the part of local property owners 



