Part I.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 109 



sistance possible to prevent the starvation of bees during the 

 winter as a resnlt of the critical sugar shortage which is referred 

 to elsewhere. In all, there are fifty-eight agents now serving. 



The Listing of Extractors. 



Co-ordinate with the desire to increase extracted honey pro- 

 duction the inspector has listed, in so far as they are known to 

 him, the extractors of the State. The free use of practically 

 all of these extractors is offered to near-by beekeepers, provided 

 arrangement can be made so as to avoid undue inconvenience. 

 In most instances, it is preferable that the beekeeper take the 

 combs of honey to be extracted to the premises of the owner of 

 the extractor. It is surprising to have ascertained that up- 

 wards of forty extractors are available in various quarters of the 

 State. Similar arrangements for the extractor service will be 

 undertaken during the next year, believing that Massachusetts 

 is adapted to extracted honey production particularly. 



The beekeeper should realize that after extracting he has 

 assets in his combs, which are ready to be used over again; 

 that at least a third to a half and perhaps more of the extracted 

 honey may be produced per colony than comb honey; that the 

 disagreeable features connected with swarms can be more 

 easily eliminated and controlled with extracted honey pro- 

 duction than with comb honey production; that colonies which 

 are in condition to yield no comb honey are often made to yield 

 some in extracted form; and that to-day it sells for as much as 

 or sometimes more per pound than comb hone}'. Moreover, 

 European foul, brood is controlled with peculiar ease in colo- 

 nies for extracted honey. Beekeepers are urged to consider 

 carefully the advisability of extracted honey production in 

 1918. There will be no overproduction it may be reasonably 

 prophesied. 



Brood Diseases of Bees. 



The work in the suppression of brood diseases of bees has 

 been continued as usual. One thousand eight hundred and 

 ninety-seven apiaries were visited, of which it was found neces- 

 sary to quarantine 58 (46 for European foul brood and 12 for 

 American foul brood). 



