No. 123.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 123 



It has been possible to release, during the current year, 121 

 apiaries, 15 of which were quarantined for American foul 

 brood, 100 for European foul brood and 6 either for American 

 or European foul brood. 



American Foul Brood. 



As has been previously enumerated, American foul brood is 

 very largely suppressed. For several years past, the writer has 

 emphasized the gradual retreat of this disease into the back- 

 ground. It is unfortunate that American foul brood colonies 

 were shipped through error to Massachusetts from another State 

 during the past year. These colonies were quickly located, how- 

 ever, and have either been destroyed or subjected to treatment. 



American foul brood was found in Berkshire County for the 

 first time on record. This case was one from an outside source. 

 It was quickly recognized, and the diseased colony destroyed. 

 It is impossible that any spread of infection could have oc- 

 curred. Out of the 162 colonies found diseased during the year, 

 25 were diseased with American foul brood. 



European Foul Brood. 



The number of possibilities for infected colonies, during the 

 past year, has been greatly reduced by the severe winter mor- 

 tality. Weak colonies were killed off during the winter in 

 many instances. There were 2,692 colonies examined during 

 the year (in a few instances there were re-examinations). Of 

 the total number of examinations, however, 137 were found 

 diseased with European foul brood. 



Beekeepers are becoming more and more aware of the funda- 

 mental principles which it is endeavored to teach them for the 

 suppression of this disease. It must be again emphasized that 

 Italianization is, perhaps, the prime factor in the suppression 

 of European foul brood. Italianization almost invariably in- 

 cludes also the following factors: strong colonies, good stores, 

 prolific queens and reasonable care by the beekeeper. At 

 first thought, the last factor might not be considered per- 

 tinent, but with Italian bees, it should be remembered that 

 usually the beekeeper is more inclined to care for his colo- 

 nies than were the colonies hybrids or other vicious strains. , 



