44 THE BEE-KEEPERS" REVIEW 



In reply to Mr. Fox I stated that undoubtedly the members of 

 the convention were as much surprised at the report as he was, for 

 the newspaper men have a habit of getting some information and 

 then building a story around it. At the same time Mr. Fox points 

 out a caution that it would be well for us all to observe, and that is 

 that we should take time to give the reporter clear instructions so 

 that the published reports would at least not l)e damaging to the bee- 

 keepers. 



The "Inspector" Should "Roll Up His Sleeves." 



In this number of the Review the reader is referred to some 

 comments on the methods of inspection of apiaries, by Mr. Wm. P. 

 Fritz, of New York. Member Fritz is not alone in thinking that an 

 inspector should "roll up his sleeves" and "pitch in" and do a con- 

 siderable part of the work in ridding a yard of disease when found. 



I suppose that each individual bee-keeper as well as inspectors 

 would have their own idea of how much actual work an inspector 

 should do on his inspection trips. 



Were I an inspector of apiaries, I would ask the proper offi- 

 cials at Lansing to furnish me with some good plain directions on 

 how to tell when one has disease among his bees, and when found, 

 how to treat them. These instructions are usually published in 

 bulletin form at the expense of the state. 



Where a diseased yard was found and the owner knew nothing 

 about the disease, I would take him out into the bee-yard and show 

 him the disease, and explain something of how to handle it in the 

 future. The first visit would be one of education. If I thought 

 best and the season was favorable and material at hand, I would 

 likely help him "treat" a colony, (just to "get his hand in.") 



I would at this first visit help him to "clean up" any contagion 

 in the shape of beeless combs, or honey that might contain spores 

 of disease in or about the yard. 



At the conclusion of the first visit the apiarist knows there is 

 disease among his bees, also how to treat it. It would be made clear 

 to him that at my second visit, which would be in a short time 

 (stating time), any swarms not treated would be destroyed (in the 

 way the law required). 



If nothing had been done by the time of the second trip, I see 

 no way open for the inspector other than examine every colony in 

 the yard, and destroy those colonies found diseased. 



Member Fritz uses a common quotation when he says "free 

 the country of foul brood." No ! Friend Fritz, the country will 

 never be free from foul brood; it is here to stay. We can control 

 it, but not free the country of it. 



