216 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



cora23aiij inspection of bees for disease; this will assure a 

 normal, well-rounded and balanced advance in beekeeping 

 rather than a one-sided development. 



The general condition of apiculture has been found to 

 be relatively low. It is estimated that in western Massa- 

 chusetts a minimum of $30,000 worth of honey might be 

 harvested annually. Where once there were hundreds of 

 colonies, there are now but C)ne or two. Were it not that 

 bees thrive there extraordinarily, the writer believes that 

 none would have siirvived disease. European foul brood 

 has repeatedly devastated the apiaries, until it is a com- 

 mon expression, " There is no use trying to keep bees 

 any more, they won't do anything."' Yet there is a small 

 fortune dried up in the flowers every year because no bees 

 harvest it. In numy parts of the State the beekeepers have 

 become disheartened, they scarcely realize why, except that, 

 as they say, they have had *' bad luck." For illustration: 

 where a few years ago there were from 75 to 100 colonies 

 of bees in one town of from 30 to 40 square miles, the 

 writer could not find the slightest trace of a bee, wild or 

 under domestic control. In talking with the farmers it 

 was learned that fruits and vegetables were failing. Is 

 there not a reason ? Yet this killing out of the bees was 

 directly traced and determined as the result of disease, 

 the last colony having succumlied within a year. 



Beekeepers need stimulation, encouragement, instruction, 

 to enable them to cope with the disastrous situation which 

 threatens to overthrow the industry. The subtle influences 

 of disease have been working for several years. The possi- 

 bilities of the industry warrant its promotion ; the general 

 interests of agriculture demand that healthy bees be main- 

 tained. 



To SUMMAEIZE. 



The work thus far has revealed the fact that the disease 

 situation may be controlled in Massachusetts as successfully 

 as has been demonstrated in New York and elsewhere, but 

 that an additional sum will be essential for the best ulti- 

 mate economy. The sooner general enlightment is afforded 

 not only the (piickcr will be the recovery of the industry and 



