166 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 



through the States before we get that. It may come to that 

 in time. 



Mr. Pease — What proportion of the States have foul 

 brood laws? 



Mr. France — I think about nine. 



Mr. Abbott — Let me suggest that you cannot have a 

 national law. 



Mr. Colburn — We have a pure-food law. 



Mr. Abbott — That is interstate commerce. 



Mr. Wheeler — What is your plan in regard to appointing 

 an inspector? How is it proposed? I suppose the law will 

 have to be plain. 



Mr. France — I think that those who are interested in 

 the line of work should select one whom they think com- 

 petent. I don't believe it is a good plan to allow this to be 

 a political appointment. Let that man be selected by the 

 State or local association. They know better who they want 

 than any other person, and let their recommendation be of 

 the one who serves them best. They cut out that portion 

 of our Wisconsin Law. I fought it to the bitter end. It was 

 first, "Upon recommedation of the Bee-Keepers' Association 

 the Government shall appoint." The political men saw fit 

 to modify our law, and now it says, "The Governor may ap- 

 point." 



Pres. York — If he does not care to appoint anybody, 

 you have no inspector? 



Mr. France — No, sir, and the State Association is not 

 asked, although it is still recognized. They have asked the 

 State Association. There is another thing they do in Wis- 

 consin. The State Board of Agriculture asked the bee- 

 keepers whom they want to be judges at the State fair. 

 They consider that the State Bee-Keepers' Association ought 

 to know who is competent for that; and the one they recom- 

 mend ?has always been appointed. Now in regard to this 

 sample of foul brood, I have here, I will confess this much : 

 In this room, with the light you have to look into, I would 

 guarantee it would be almost a failure to see the various 

 stages of foul brood, from the fact that you would get 

 shadows that you wouldn't get in day-light, but I have illus- 

 trated to you how you should look to see it. 



Pres. York — I should think now that we ought to be 

 able to know foul brood or almost smell foul brood or some- 

 thing, by this time, as we have been talking about it all fore- 

 noon. I was glad to have it discussed, but I was afraid 

 some that were not particularly interested would get tired 

 of it. 



Mr. Meredith — Mv reason for coming here was based al- 

 most entirely upon what I could learn about foul brood, 

 knowing that the disease is around Batavia, and I think in 

 an aoiary that was inspected by one of the inspectors. If 

 I am going to keep bees I want to be in condition to know 

 when my bees are free from disease, or take such measures 

 to see that they are. 



Mr. Moore — I want to speak of a thing that has not 



