12 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



January 



Organization for Disease Control 

 in Texas 



TEXAS is a big State in area. It 

 is second only to California in 

 the importance of its beekeep- 

 ing industry. Accordingly we are not 

 surprised to find the largest organi- 

 zation with centralized control, for 

 dealing with bee diseases, of any 

 State. The work of eradication of 

 bee diseases is- placed in charge of 

 the State Entomologist. Since he is 

 also charged with control of insect 

 pests, he places the bee disease prob- 

 lems in the hands of a chief inspec- 

 tor who has no other duties to per- 

 form. Under this chief inspector is 

 a force of forty local inspectors who 

 are responsible for the field work. 



The Texas law is very stringent, 

 giving unlimited authority to the 

 State Entomologist. Not only is he 

 able to enforce all the provisions 

 specifically set out in the statute, but 

 he is also given authority to make 

 such additional regulations as may 

 be needed. On this point the law of 

 Texas reads : 



"Shall have full authority to 

 make, promulgate and enforce 

 such rules, ordinances, orders and 

 regulations, and to do and per- 

 form such acts as, in his judg- 

 ment, may be necessary to con- 

 trol, eradicate or prevent the in- 

 troduction, spread or dissemina- 

 tion of any and all contagious 

 diseases of honeybees." 

 The specific statutes relating to 

 control of bee diseases are long, con- 



>ees is a big job in some sections. The inspector 

 ble for a great advance in Texas beekeeping. 



sisting of more than twenty sections 

 of the law. Special provision is made 

 to prohibit the shipping of any bees, 

 equipment or honey into the State, 

 without a certificate from duly con- 

 stituted authority, to the effect that 

 they are free from disease. Railroad 

 companies are prohibited from re- 

 ceiving for shipment either bees, 



Officials in charge of i ing, left 



W, Bilsing, instructor in beekeepi'i,< at the 



to right, W. E. Jackson, chief inspector; S 

 college; F. B. Paddock, State Entomologist 



combs or used equipment from place 

 to place within the State except un- 

 der such regulations as shall be pre- 

 scribed by the State Entomologist. 

 The officials are given full authority 

 to examine any bees in transit at any 

 point within the State and to seize 

 and confiscate them if found dis- 

 eased. Further authority is given to 

 establish quarantine against the ship- 

 ment of bees or honey into or out of 

 any district which may be designated. 

 This is to prevent the introduction of 

 disease into any territory that may 

 be free from it, or to prevent its 

 spread from localities where it is 

 known to be present. 



The Entomologist has authority to 

 make it unlawful to keep bees in 

 other than movable-comb hives in 

 any part of the State where he finds 

 it necessary in the discharge of his 

 duties. He may burn bees, hives and 

 honey, if he sees fit, in order to 

 eradicate the disease from any part 

 of Texas. 



In meeting any emergency, it is 

 necessary to centralize authority and 

 the Texas people have given the en- 

 tomologist a great deal of latitude in 

 dealing with bee diseases. Inspection 

 laws have been passed for the bene- 

 fit of beekeepers, and at their re- 

 quest. What beekeepers want is pro- 

 tection against the spread of disease, 

 and this is the sole object of the law. 

 The results obtained depend upon the 

 manner of administration. Prof. F. 

 B. Paddock, who is responsible for 

 the administration of the Texas law, 

 takes the view that it is useless to 

 spend the State's money in fighting 

 disease in localities where the bee- 

 keepers are not interested. He ac- 

 cordingly makes a requirement that 

 the beekeepers be organized in every 

 locality where inspection is under- 

 taken. He regards the co-operation 

 of the local association of prime im- 

 portance in cleaning up disease. In 

 the selection of a local inspector he 



