292 LAWS THAT CONCERN THE BEE-KEEPER 



LAWS FOR CONTROL OF BEE DISEASE 



Although other animal diseases have been subject to regula- 

 tion by law for many years, laws relating to bee diseases are of 

 comparatively recent date. Wisconsin was the first State to pass 

 foul brood laws. In the year 1897 a law was passed providing 

 for the inspection of bees and prohibiting the sale of infected 

 colonies or appliances. I^. E. France was appointed inspector 

 and has served continuously since that date. At present more 

 than half of the States have laws regulating bee diseases and 

 providing for inspection. !New States are added to the list every 

 biennial period at the meeting of the various legislatures, and 

 apparently but a few years will elapse until every State has 

 made some such provision. The tendency is to enact cumber- 

 some statutes in the beginning which set out in detail the method 

 of procedure under every condition. After being put to the test 

 of actual service there is a tendency to modify the laws and leave 

 something to the judgment of the inspector. To begin with 

 most laws require that the inspector be notified by three persons 

 of the supposed existence of foul brood in a locality before he is 

 compelled to investigate. Under such conditions disease may 

 become exceedingly prevalent before three persons will notify 

 the inspector. If a single notice is sufficient a neighborhood 

 may be cleaned up when the disease first makes its appearance 

 and many bees, as well as much expense, be saved. 



It should be borne in mind that elaborately drawn laws 

 rather tend to restrict the work of the inspector than to enlarge 

 his opportunities for dealing with a serious condition. If the 

 law is greatly extended to outline the various conditions which 

 he is supposed to meet he will be restricted to such powers and 

 duties as are expressly granted in the statute. On the other 

 hand if his office and duties are created and defined in a short 

 general statute he will be free to meet such situations as arise. 



The New York law has been on the statute books since 1902 

 and a somewhat similar law several years previous to that time. 



Bee inspection in that State is carried on under direction of 



