LEHER OF transmittal; 



U. S. Department or Agricultttee, 



Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington, D. G., September 2Ji., 1906. 



Sir: I have the honor to transmit the manuscript of a paper on 

 the bacteria of the apiary, with special reference to bee diseases, by 

 Dr. G. F. ^Vhite, expert in animal bacteriology in the Biochemic 

 Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry. This paper was pre- 

 pared by Doctor "White as a thesis in part fulfilment of the require- 

 ments for the degree of doctor of philosophy, at Cornell University, 

 in June, 1905. The Bureau of Entomolo^ considers itself fortu- 

 nate in obtaining it for publication, since in this way a wider distri- 

 bution can be made than would be possible were it published in a 

 journal devoted exclusively to bacteriological investigations. It is 

 hoped that the publication of these facts may help to clear up the 

 confusion which now exists concerning the causes of the two most 

 common diseases of the brood of bees. I recommend that the manu- 

 script be published as Technical Series, No. 14, of this Bureau. 



Doctor White wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. 

 Veranus A. Moore, professor of comparative pathology and bac- 

 teriology of Cornell University, under whose direction this work 

 was done; to Dr. E. F. Phillips, acting in charge of apiculture, 

 Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 for encouragement and assistance in the preparation of this manu- 

 script; and to Messrs. Mortimer Stevens, Charles Stewart, N. D. 

 West, and W. D. Wright, bee inspectors of the State of New York, 

 for their interest in the work. 



EespectfuUy, L. O. Howard, 



Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



