18 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



aud it would seem probable that since there must always be a 

 certain amount of such seed, there will be increased probability 

 that it will seek a market in those States not having seed laws. 

 This, it seems likely, will mean an increase in the amount of in- 

 ferior seed brought into Massachusetts for sale. The laws in 

 our neighboring States have not yet been long in effect, and 

 the tendency to which I have referred has not yet shown itself. 

 Should it seem, however, that Massachusetts is becoming a 

 dumping ground for inferior seed, it will clearly be the part of 

 wisdom to endeavor to secure the enactment of a law for the 

 protection of honest dealers (who, it is believed, are in a large 

 majority in the State) and of the buyers and users of farm and 

 garden seeds. 



The investigation carried on by Dr. Burton N^. Gates and 

 the correspondence of the experiment station have made it per- 

 fectly apparent that both European and American foul brood 

 are common among bees in various parts of the State. The ex- 

 istence of this disease threatens an industry which is already of 

 considerable importance, and which might, with great advantage 

 to our citizens, receive much greater attention. The passage 

 of an act providing for an inspector of apiaries would be most 

 desirable. The work of this inspector would be largely and no 

 doubt chiefly educational. These diseases can be eradicated or 

 controlled. Many beekeepers would no doubt undertake to rid 

 their apiaries of disease could they be shown how to do the work. 

 Under existing conditions, however, a beekeeper unfortunate 

 enough to have either of the varieties of foul brood would have 

 little encouragement to rid his apiary of the disease for the rea- 

 son that he must anticipate re-infection from the apiaries of 

 beekeepers who should neglect to carry out remedial treatment 

 with the thoroughness essential to success. The inspector of 

 apiaries, therefore, must be given authority to compel remedial 

 treatment, or, if other measures fail, to destroy infected colonies. 

 N^ew York and Connecticut now have laws providing for such 

 work as has been indicated, and it is quite time that Massa- 

 chusetts also should enact such a law. 



It seems probable that a national law covering the manufac- 

 ture and sale of insecticides and fungicides will be enacted by 

 the Congress now in session. Such a law has been under joint 



