120 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



of the Federal department, the writer has sent out numerous 

 circular letters and announcements to the beekeepers. The 

 Department of Agriculture has also sent out, for the writer, 

 to each beekeeper of the State, bulletins which have been issued 

 during the current year. A series of three Farmers' Bulletins, 

 pertaining to sweet clover, were also sent out by the Depart- 

 ment. The writer resigned his collaboratorship, October 1, 

 1918. 



Appointment or Beekeeping Agents. 



The policy, inaugurated in 1917, of appointing beekeeping 

 leaders, or, as they are known, "agents" in beekeeping of the 

 Board of Agriculture, in such towns, where possible, has been 

 continued. There are now serving 79 prominent beekeepers. 

 The service which these beekeepers have rendered, not only to 

 their constituents but also to the oflSce of the Inspector of 

 Apiaries, is inestimable. These agents serve as a bond between 

 the beekeepers of a given town, or group of towns, and the 

 inspector's office. In some instances the office has been kept 

 informed of local conditions, and, through the courtesy of the 

 agent, oftentimes has been able to reach certain beekeepers 

 who otherwise have not been readily accessible. The appoint- 

 ment of agents, therefore, is particularly to be recommended. 



Typical of the services rendered by the agents is the follow- 

 ing quotation in response to a request for preliminary informa- 

 tion concerning the winter loss. The agent for Taunton re- 

 plied, under date of April 10: — 



I am in a position to take account of each beekeeper's bees in the city 

 of Taunton and surrounding towns. I have found in Taunton 37 bee- 

 keepers with 141 swarms among them this winter. This spring during 

 March and first of April there were 58 swarms alive and 83 dead. 



Incidentally, it is of interest to observe how closely the 

 winter loss, estimated for Taunton, approaches the percentage 

 of winter loss for the State, as figured out below. 



