No. 4.] INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 411 



supervised, there be additional funds which shall provide for 

 the necessary time and help. The request for funds, while it 

 has been contemplated by the inspector, is emphatically made 

 by the beekeepers, especially those in the territory of this new 

 focus of infection. 



This focus of infection is in southeastern Massachusetts, and 

 is much more serious than had been previously supposed. 

 Within the last year it has apparently spread, which would not 

 have been the case had it been possible to know the extent 

 of the infection and to watch and supervise it carefully. Travel 

 is impeded by distance and lack of means of transportation. 

 Consequently considerable time is consumed in making the 

 rounds of these apiaries. But it is now only too evident to you 

 that this is worth while, if it will result in the beekeepers of a 

 locality recognizing their possibilities and then becoming rid 

 of their tremendous handicap of infection. It seems probable 

 that most excellent crops of honey should be available. In fact, 

 the beautiful comb of white clover honey, shown in the illus- 

 tration, was taken by Inspector Fuller from the vicinity of New 

 Bedford, where infection has been found particularly prevalent. 

 This comb is merely one of many, and represents in one in- 

 stance a crop of 150 pounds from a single colony. 



Realizing the gravity of this situation, Mr. Franklin James 

 of New Bedford (now deceased) had prepared a petition to the 

 Legislature for increased inspection funds, and had intended 

 to present the resolution to the beekeepers' societies for their 

 support. This resolution has been prepared and passed by the 

 Worcester County Beekeepers' Association and appears as 

 follows : — 



V/hereas, The Worcester County Beekeepers' Association, seeing the 

 need of a larger appropriation for the successful suppression of bee diseases 

 and knowing if these diseases are not subdued or held in check, which we 

 believe carmot be done with our present api:)ropriation, a large financial 

 loss is sure to follow, not only to beekeepers but to fruit and vegetable 

 growers who rely upon the bee for the fertilization of the blossoms, there- 

 fore be it 



Resolved, That the Worcester County Beekeepers' Association ask that 

 an increase in the appropriation be made by the Legislature during the 

 next season. 



J. S. Whittemore, 

 Secretary, Worcester County Beekeepers' Association. 



