74 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 



inspectors, I have been trying since the first of the year in 

 otir State to find some one to take my office and let me out, 

 but I confess it is hard to find. I find plenty of people who 

 know about bees, but that is not all that is needed. In Wis- 

 consin, treating bees is not half the trouble; it is the man 

 who keeps the bees to treat, rather than the bees, and it is 

 hard to find a man to suit the people who own the bees. In 

 many States they have County Inspectors appointed by the 

 County Commissioners, and it is sometimes like a team of 

 horses that don't pull together. Political matters get mixed 

 into it, and there is a chance to "get even," as the saying is. 

 To illustrate: Two men were candidates for City Mayor. 

 One, of course, was elected and the other not, and the other 

 man was elected foul brood inspector. During the time 

 this man had some bees. He quarreled with his neighbor 

 and was commissioned bee-inspector. "Now I will get it 

 back on you, Charlie," he said, "Going to burn your bees 

 for you tomorrow." 



But I have a deputy in many places, someone to see that 

 the work has been finished that I started to have done, and 

 I really believe that in our own State it has been more 

 economical to the State, and the deputies all drawing money 

 make a big bill. The first year or two I had opposed some- 

 thing, and the papers had reported that the inspector would 

 burn up the hive. Do you wonder that I was met at the 

 gate with a gun and a dog to keep me off the premises? I 

 sent out postal cards and outlined a circuit over the State, 

 and I established dates that I would be at a certain place a 

 certain day, and all the bee-keepers in that vicinity were 

 there, and in many cases I deputize someone to look after 

 the neighbors, and with the exception of two they have 

 done their best to help their neighbors get rid of the dis- 

 ease; they will leave their farm work if they. know when I 

 am coming, and take me to their farm. I find the German 

 wax-press is the best of anything to save the wax, but the 

 expense of the thing is so much that there are only a few 

 in the State. I purchased a German wax-press, and have it 

 checked as my baggage. It has gone as personal property 

 all around the State, and when I find foul brood I clean 

 everything all up, without any expense to the State, except 

 just the hours I am out with it. I have the counties in our 

 State that were infected down to four at the present time. 



Mr. Black — I think the Association might print a little 

 booklet describing foul brood, telling what can be done with 

 it and advising that the inspector be notified as soon as pos- 

 sible, and let the booklet be sent with the letter from the 

 inspector. He can, by that means, come in a pleasant 

 manner as possible, and they will be more ready, and be 

 better qualified to aid him when he comes. 



Mr. Smith — It doesn't take long to educate the people; 

 they are all interested, and those who don't know about 

 foul brood want to know about it. That circular is what I 

 want so that I would not have to write the same thing over 

 and over again. 



