No. 4.] INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 207 



Certification. — Hardly had the work of inspection l)ecn 

 bciiiin than the writer had requests for the names of persons 

 who could snpply bees positively free from infection. Of 

 late the requests have been even more numerous, not only 

 from beekeepers or prospective beekeepers, but from or- 

 chardists, market gardeners, growers of cucund)ers under 

 glass, and even from cranberry growers. Beekeepers and 

 growers of cucumbers under glass in particular have repeat- 

 edly made disappointing purchases of bees. Colonies have 

 failed to do M^ell and often have died. This is known to 

 have been due to the presence of disease in the colonies 

 when sold. It is also known that disease has been intro- 

 duced into apiaries which otherwise were healthy. Although 

 the writer is glad to believe that the sale of diseased bees 

 has been unintentional, nevertheless the disastrous effects 

 are unchanged. It introduces doubt and distrust into the 

 bee market, and is particularly discouraging to the beginner, 

 who falls a victim to what amounts to fraud. From the 

 unfortunate experiences throughout the State has arisen 

 the demand, spontaneously and simultaneously, for bees 

 which can be pronounced by expert authority free from 

 disease. It has been suggested that there should be some 

 system of certification, similar, perhaps, to the certification 

 of nursery stock. Those who have had their bees examined 

 may tell the purchaser of the fact, but the larger beekeepers 

 and those who raise bees for sale urge more than that. They 

 would have a certificate of health to send with each ship- 

 ment. The inspector sees how it will be possible to arrange 

 for this, but greater detail and labor will be consequent. 

 Certainly it deserves serious consideration. 



The system should be of advantage in two ways, giving 

 assurance to the bee raiser and protection to the purchaser. 

 Thus it should tend to give the sale of bees in Massachusetts 

 precedence, should increase such sale materially, and, con- 

 sequently, the production. Aside from the healthy stimulus 

 to beekeeping, the horticulturist who is dependent upon 

 disease-free stock for success in his crops will benefit in 

 proportion. 



