No. L] KKPORT OF SECKETARY. xxi 



Bke Keeping in Massachusetts. 

 Few people a]">preciate the importanee of the hoc industry 

 in Massachusetts, or the numl)er of those interested in it. 

 There are no figures available later than those for 1899, 

 from the United States census, the State census not having 

 been worked out in detail as to agricultural products; and 

 the increase during the nine years since the figures for the 

 United States census were taken has been very marked. 

 This Board has endeavored to increase the interest in this 

 line of work, and to assist the bee keepers of the State in 

 every way possible, — by bulletins, lectures and demonstra- 

 tions. During the past year three institute lectures have 

 been delivered before societies of bee keepers, under the 

 auspices of this Board ; and at our public winter meeting 

 at Greenfield a lecture was delivered by Mr. Charles Stewart, 

 Bee Inspector of ISTew York, dealing with the whole subject 

 of bees and honey production. This industry is menaced 

 by the appearance in many sections of the disease known as 

 " foul brood," and if it is not checked it will eventually 

 spread over the State and practically wipe out this promising 

 industry. Last summer this Board gave a demonstration, 

 at the apiary of Mr. E. IST. Fisher of Ludlow, of the method 

 of combating this disease, with Mr. Charles Stewart as 

 demonstrator. This demonstration will be repeated in other 

 sections where the bee keepers request it. There is agitation 

 among the bee keepers for an inspection law similar to that 

 in New York, where the inspectors have authority to compel 

 bee keepers to abate the nuisance caused by the presence of 

 foul brood in their apiaries. This system of inspection has 

 saved the industry in Xew York, and, though that State 

 has a great deal more capital invested in the business than 

 Massachusetts, it still seems as though something should be 

 done for the protection of the industry in this State. Just 

 what should be done is a matter for future determination; 

 but I would recommend that the Board direct its secretary 

 to look into the matter, and to favor any legislation which, 

 in his judgment, shall seem reasonable and likely to be of 

 assistance to the bee keepers of Massachusetts. 



