No. 4.] INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 231 



sachusetts is probably quite as close an estimate as is availa- 

 ble for other sections of the country. There was a very 

 heavy depreciation of stock throughout the country east of 

 the Mississippi River. 



Increase in Beeheepers. — The records of the office show 

 that there have been but few beekeepers who commenced 

 in 1912, 22 being recorded Avith 14 additional prospective 

 beekeepers. A far greater number were stricken from our 

 list as having discontinued beekeeping. Two hundred and 

 ninety-seven records were discontinued in the files. Some of 

 these, however, unknown to the office, had discontinued 

 previous to this year. 



MiSCELT.ANEOTTS WoRK. 



C orrespondence. — A proportionate increase in the cor- 

 respondence has occurred in the present year. A low esti- 

 mate places it at 33ya per cent increase over 1911. The 

 interest without New England is increasing. It has been 

 necessary to secure additional assistance in order to keep up 

 with, this phase of the work and to attend to certain details 

 of the records which are explained elsewhere. 



Records. — The satisfaction of the record system on cards 

 is evident from the fact that no alteration for the next year 

 is found necessary. 



A very prominent feature of the success of the season, 

 however, is due to the adoption of the so-called " clean-up " 

 card. 



" Clean-iip " card. — The policy of inspectors, as brought 

 out at the Convention of Apiary Inspectors, held at Amherst 

 in 1912, whose proceedings are appended, show that it is not 

 deemed advisable in many States to revisit apiaries. The 

 energy thus consumed, it is considered, is better spent if 

 applied to new territory, or by following up urgent or un- 

 usual cases. A compromise has been attempted in Massa- 

 chusetts. In order to notify the office that the instructions 

 of the inspectors have been fulfilled, the card illustrated 

 below has been adopted. 



