STATUS OF APICULTURE IN UNITED STATES. 77 



Numerous papers and books have been written on these subjects, 

 especially on anatomy, but they generally prove incorrect and unscien- 

 tific when carefully studied. It is regrettable that too often pseudo- 

 scientists have been allowed to impose on the bee-keeping public by 

 sending out publications purporting to be the results of research which 

 are in reality compilations in large part, and the actual observations 

 of the author are not based on a proper preparation for such work. 

 The amount of work done on the physiology of the bee is indeed 

 meager; the problem is a difficult one, but as technique is perfected 

 such work should be taken up. The whole basis of practical api- 

 culture is a knowledge of the behavior of the bee; without such 

 knowledge there could be no good practical work. Probably no 

 insect has been studied from this standpoint more than has the honey- 

 bee, but every new piece of work done simply points out new lines of 

 work that are desirable. 



Botanical. — Our knowledge of nectar-secreting plants now consists 

 largely of random observations, usually for a limited locality, recorded 

 in bee journals and books. Systematic work along this line, if done 

 by competent observers, would give to the bee keeper the means of 

 studying the possibilities of any locality as it can not now be done. 

 More work is needed to give accurate information as to the part played 

 by the honey bee in plant pollination, as well as data showing the 

 present value of, and future possibilities in, that work. 



Bacteriological. — The cause of one brood disease is now known, a 

 but there is still a great deal of work to be done in the study of the 

 bacteria of disease. This work is of the highest practical importance, 

 for without a thorough knowledge of the organisms it is impossible to 

 diagnose the more obscure samples, and only by a detailed study can 

 information be gathered as to the amount of heat or disinfectant 

 which must be used in combating disease. 



Chemical. — Considerable work has been done on honey analysis, 

 and a recent publication 6 of the Bureau of Chemistry of this Depart- 

 ment is an excellent piece of work which lays the foundation of a good 

 market for pure honey in making it possible to detect adulteration. 

 In addition to what is already done, there should be a more detailed 

 study of honeys from individual honey-plant sources. 



ECONOMIC NEEDS. 



There is or should be no sharp distinction between scientific and 

 practical bee keeping. Practical bee keeping is but the application 



« White, Dr. G. F. — The Cause of American Foul Brood. Circular No. 94, Bureau 



of Entomology, U. S. Dept of Agriculture, 4 pp., 1!)()7. 



6 Browne, C. A., and Young, W. J. — Chemical Analysis and Composition of Ameri- 

 can Honeys, including a Microscopical Study <>f Honey Pollen. Bulletin No, 1 1<>, 

 Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 93 pp., VI plates, 1908. 



