Xo. 4.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 113 



Southeastern Massachusetts. 



The locality in the southeastern part of the State reported 

 last year as probably seriously infected has been carefully 

 worked during the past season, requiring the attention of one 

 of the inspectors. Although diseases had apparently gained 

 a firm footing, the territory is being brought under control. 

 As the work progresses, the beekeepers see that it is more and 

 more to their interest to resort, if necessary, to the early 

 destruction of the infected colonies. But very few colonies 

 have been destroyed; these were largely weaklings not in 

 condition for successful treatment. 



Sacbrood. 



Sacbrood continues to be found in a small percentage of the 

 colonies of the State. The figures of the last three years' in- 

 spection indicate that between 7 and 9 per cent of the colonies 

 of the State are infected with sacbrood. The figures might be 

 interpreted to mean an increase in the prevalence of this 

 infection, but it should be realized that this disease is more 

 readih' recognized and understood to-day than heretofore. 



The writer, however, found what should be considered as 

 seriously infected colonies. The indications are that the infec- 

 tion had continued in these apiaries for a number of years in a 

 prevalent form. In order to procure accurate figures, counts 

 were made of the diseased larvse, healthy larvae, eggs and cells 

 of pollen, and from these figures it has been possible to obtain 

 the per cent of diseased larvae in a given number of cells. I 

 present three cases for consideration : — 



Case 1, June 24, 1915. — A comb from a badly infected 

 colony, judged by close examination, was selected. A block of 

 brood cells was marked off at random on this comb (18 cells 

 one way and 25 cells the other), and it contained 450 cells 

 by count. One hundred and twenty-five sacbrood scales and 

 larvae were found. Thus there was about 25 per cent plus of 

 brood in this block infected with sacbrood. 



Case 2, June 24, 1915. — The comb used in this case was the 

 reverse of Case 1. A block of 585 cells was selected at random 



