292 LAWS THAT CONCERN THE BEE-KEEPER 
LAWS FOR CONTROL OF BEE DISEASE 
Although other animal diseases have been subject to regula- 
tion by law for inany years, laws relating to bee diseases are of 
comparatively recent date. Wisconsin was the first State to pass 
foul brood laws. In the year 1897 a law was passed providing 
for the inspection of bees and prohibiting the sale of infected 
colonies or appliances. N. E. France was appointed inspector 
and has served continuously since that date. At present more 
than half of the States have laws regulating bee diseases and 
providing for inspection. New States are added to the list every 
biennial period at the meeting of the various legislatures, and 
apparently but a few years will elapse until every State has 
made some such provision. The tendency is to enact cumber- 
some statutes in the beginning which set out in detail the method 
of procedure under every condition. After being put to the test 
of actual service there is a tendency to modify the laws and leave 
something to the judement of the inspector. To begin with 
most laws require that the inspector be notified bv three persons 
of the supposed existence of foul brood in a locality before he is 
compelled to investigate. Under such conditions disease may 
become exceedingly prevalent before three persons will notify 
the inspector. If a single notice is sufficient a neighborhood 
may be cleaned up when the disease first makes its appearance 
and many bees, as well as much expense, be saved. 
It should be borne in mind that elaborately drawn laws 
rather tend to restrict the work of the inspector than to enlarge 
his opportunities for dealing with a serious condition. If the 
law is greatly extended to outline the various conditions which 
he is supposed to meet he will be restricted to such powers and 
duties as are expressly granted in the statute. On the other 
hand if his office and duties are created and defined in a short 
general statute he will be free to meet such situations as arise. 
The New York law has been on the statute books since 1902 
and a somewhat similar law several vears previous to that time. 
Bee inspection in that State is carried on under direction of 
