DECEMBER 1, 1916 



1119 



express regref that llieir bees were a source 

 of infer'tioii for their neighboi's' apiaries, 

 and they helj^ the insijeetor to clean up the 

 infection. In nine eases out of ten the 

 cleaning- up is done without any compulsion 

 on tlie part of the insiDector. After inspec- 

 tion has been in progress for several years 

 the beekeepers learn the value of it and look 

 for the coming' of the inspector with pleas- 

 ure, as he is usually better informed and can 

 impart valuable beekeeping information. 

 There is a small class in every community 

 who object to what they consider interfer- 

 ence with their private affairs, and this 

 class mii/hf not be particular about spread- 

 ing" disease among their neighbors' bees. 

 The fear of this is ^'eater among some bee- 

 keepers than there is any foijndation for. 

 In a very few eases it doubtless has been 

 done, but in no case should it deter the in- 

 spector in elTecting- a clean-up. If an in- 

 spector finds an apiary in a I'otten condition 

 at a time of year when robbing is being 

 done, the procedure generally followed is to 

 stay in the yard until no infection is left 

 that the owner might use in spreading in- 

 fection maliciously among- his neighbors. 

 The average man who neglects his apiary 

 to such an extent does not value highly the 

 diseased material that is destroyed. The 

 aim of the inspectors is to help the owner 

 rid his apiary of disease for his own pro- 

 tection as well as that of his neig-hbors. 



Stock inspection, dairy inspection, and 

 fruit inspection have been carried on so 

 thoroly that the farmers are not opposed to 

 inspection work. If they are persuaded 

 that the inspector is competent and consci- 

 entious, the work is not difficult. 



An inspector who succeeds is diplomatic 

 and educational in his methods; but the bee- 

 kee]^ers realize that he is backed up with 

 sufHcient authority if he needs it, avid 

 authoritjr has to be shown in very few in- 

 stances. 



There is a certain amount of bluff in us 

 all ; and it is amusing to watch some people 

 try to bluff the insiiector, endeavoring- to 

 find out wlietlier he means busine-s. I have 

 had farmeis tell me that th.ey would not do 

 as directed unless they had to; and when 

 told that is would be necessary for them to 

 do the same as tlieir neighbors were doing 

 they agreed to it without any more objec- 

 tion. One man told me he wanted to know 

 wliat authoi'ity I had, because lie was not 

 going- to do any moi-e than he liad to; and 

 when thru with my instructions he laughed 

 and said he was just trying- me out. 



A few bonfires, where cleaning uj) is not 

 promptly done, have a very beneficial effect, 

 for the whole neig-hborhood soon hears of it. 



In. burning diseased material, we always en- 

 deavor to save anything- of value that is pos- 

 sible. Thoro work, even tho it may seem 

 rather destructive, gives the most lasting 

 satisfaction, and these districts are the ones 

 wliere the inspector is most api)reciated in 

 succeeding years. 



The inspectors do in many counties ex- 

 amine nearly every apiary in the county, 

 and tlie educational value of talking with 

 and advising beekeepers is greater than can 

 ever be reached by any other plan. But a 

 small percentage can be reached thru insti- 

 tutes—we need both meth( ds — but the per- 

 sonal contact of the inspector with the bee- 

 keeper is pretty much the same as that of 

 the county agTicultural agents advising with 

 the farmers. More personal contact and 

 less farmers' institute work will meet with 

 better results than more extension work and 

 less inspection work. We do need better- 

 trained inspectors, and a combination of 

 educational endeavor with the inspection 

 work is advisable. The actual meeting with 

 the beekeeper in his own apiary by the in- 

 spector is the great strength of tlie inspec- 

 tion work. The inspector should have time 

 to demonstrate the best methods of disease 

 treatment, and also some of the best bee- 

 keeping- methods. 



One of the most helpful ways is for one 

 beekeeper to get several of his neighbors to- 

 gether and look over their bees together with 

 the inspector, compare notes, and have a 

 miniature field meeting right there. 



There are several ideas expressed by Mr. 

 Ames that should be answered. The care- 

 less beekeeper will never be eliminated. 

 The stray swarms are caught about as fast 

 as foul brood cleans them out. Thoro in- 

 spection is keejiing disease under control 

 where the majority of the beekeepers are of 

 the careless variety. A few learn from the 

 inspector, but tlie majority have too many 

 other irons in the fire to pay much attention 

 to bees. 



Mr. Ames' idea seems to be I hat educa- 

 tional effort should supjilant inspection laws 

 and inspection work. If he really thinks 

 this, as the editor's quotations lead one to 

 believe, it cannot be too strongly con- 

 demned. We must improve the inspection 

 meUiods, so they will be highly educational; 

 but the individual resi)onsibility of the bee- 

 keejiers to tlie welfare of their neighbors 

 yet needs enforcement. We could get no- 

 where if we tried to enforce our city health 

 ordinances by educational m^thocls only. 

 Thei-e must be power behind any effective 

 effoit. wliether it is bee-disease control or 

 inlernational treaties. 



Boulder, Colo. 



