THE BEEKEEPERS' REVIEW 225 



Report on Apiary Inspection and Demonstration in 



Ontario 1914 



MORLEY PETTIT, Provincial Apiarist 



It has not been found necessary to make much change in the 

 management of the inspection of apiaries from the methods 

 reported at previous conventions. In accordance with a resolution 

 passed at the last Annual Convention, more local inspectors were 

 appointed than ever before, but with this exception the work has 

 been carried on much as usual. 



The Inspectors' Conference was held at the Beekeeping Short 

 Course in January, at the Ontario Agricultural College. A letter 

 warning against danger of spreading disease by allowing bees to 

 rob was sent to the general list of beekeepers early in the spring, 

 and the self inspection report forms went to the disease list of 

 beekeepers in May. These were given a hearty response by the 

 recipients. 



Twenty-one apiary inspectors were employed. Nine of these 

 were strictly local inspectors that is, they are practical beekeepers 

 appointed to inspect bees in their own and adjoining counties. 

 Eight have taken some training at the Ontario Agricultural Col- 

 lege and have returned to their homes to keep bees. They also 

 acted as local inspectors. The remaining four men were sent out 

 directly from the Ontario Agricultural College, after having 

 received a special course of training in apiary inspection and in 

 conducting apiary demonstrations. 



One thousand three hundred and sixteen visits were made to 

 apiaries by inspectors during the season of 1914, and while in the 

 European Foul Brood , district 50 per cent of the apiaries visited 

 were found diseased, only 31 per cent of the apiaries visited in the 

 American Foul Brood district were found in this condition. In 

 other words, whereas the inspectors only went to apiaries where 

 disease had been reported or was strongly suspected, seven out of 

 ten such apiaries in the A. F. B. district were found to be free of 

 disease. This shows that the educational campaign which we have 

 been conducting for several years is bearing good fruit. 



While it is exceedingly regrettable it is not surprising that 

 European Foul Brood is still spreading rapidly. Some new coun- 

 ties have been taken into the diseased area this year. It is only a 

 matter of time until the whole province is covered. Nothing but 

 careful requeening with vigorous stock and advanced methods of 

 management will save any apiary in Ontario from ultimate destruc- 



