130 THE BEE-KEEPERS REVIEW 



It will be conceded that there is at least one oefect in the present 

 foul brood law and that is. — the absence of a penalty for failure to 

 report cases of foul brood that are known to exist. 



It is reasonable to asstime that a bee-keeper, who is informed of 

 the existence of foul brood in his yard, is sufficiently interested to 

 be willing to carry out instructitms that have been demonstrated to 

 him by the inspector, but instead, some think that their interests 

 are conserved by "doing as I think best.'" Such a one is dishonest 

 to the inspector, to his neighboring bee-keepers, and to himself, 

 whereas state inspection of bees as represented here has never 

 been known to fail in benefiting those who are willing to help them- 

 selves, although our friend would have us believe everyone must be 

 "a hewer of wood and drawer of water." 



If a little more co-operation of the apiarists with the inspectors 

 were indulged in, instead of antagonism shown, there would be less 

 of foul brood than there is at present. Another point wdiich our 

 friend fails to grasp is, — that foul brood is of such a character that 

 there is slim chance of its being entirely wiped out, but considerable 

 headway can be made by directing the same amount of energy in 

 boosting that is now dissipated in knocking. 



The present inspectors have the entire confidence of the X. Y. 

 Association of Bee-keepers' Societies which is composed of all the 

 leading bee-keepers in the state, and a renewal of this confidence 

 was had as recently as the state meeting in this city in December, 

 1912. 



Spring Feeding for the Honey Crop. 



By HENRY L. JEFFREY, Woodbury; Conn. 



' "J|N nearlv every article by nearly every writer on securing the 

 ^jl honev crop, very strong emphasis is placed on having the 

 swarm in good condition at the beginning of the honey flow, 

 but as the Irishman says, "Divil the wan tells us how" that condi- 

 tion is obtained. 



Years ago, ]\Ir. Curl Bostwick, of Sandy Hook, and I both had 

 about the same number of colonies, from 30 to 40 each. One spring 

 the last of March was very pleasant, and I examined my bees and 

 found six of the strongest and best starving. I reduced them down 

 to four or five combs, and then fed them all they would take. The 

 first of April, Mr. Bostwick examined his bees and found six starv- 

 ing. He gave them a few part-full sections of honey, then started 

 for me. i\'e closed his bees down the same as mine, fed them all 

 they would take for two days and nights, and then closed them up 

 to stav until warm weather came. 



