DISEASES OF BEES 23 



diseases. The federal government contributes about 1,000,000 fr. 

 annually for the control of all animal diseases. The contribution 

 for bee diseases (10,000 fr.) is therefore only about 1 per cent. 



The second important point is that the beekeepers, in spite of 

 this government aid, have retained full autonomy in the control of 

 bee diseases. Apiculture has its own peculiarities and needs which 

 must be followed if one wants success. It is of little use to be a 

 good veterinarian. To know all the diseases of the other domestic 

 animals does not make one a good bee doctor. The first qualifica- 

 tion for our bee inspectors is not that they be good veterinarians 

 or good microscopists, but they they should be good beekeepers. 

 They are trained in special courses for their position as bee inspectors. 

 We can say that in Switzerland the matter is regulated thus : the 

 government gives the money and the beekeepers do the rest. 

 There is a mutual confidence whereby both parties are satisfied. 



The government should not be drawn in more than absolutely 

 necessary. For this reason our foul brood insurance is private, that 

 is to say, it is the affair of the beekeepers' society. This requires 

 first of all that beekeepers have a strong central organisation. 

 This condition is fulfilled in Switzerland. Thus it was possible that, 

 with the very small insurance premium of 5 centimes per colony, 

 100 per cent, of the value of the diseased hive could be paid out 

 as an indemnity. Besides a reserve fund could be created which at 

 present amounts to about 50,000 fr. This sum even enables us to 

 meet unexpected situations. 



Each local beekeeper's association has also a special fund for 

 the control of bee diseases ; that is to say, chiefly for the sanitary 

 inspection within its territory. 



The third important point is absolute certainty of diagnosis. 

 The whole control of a disease is impossible as long as there is 

 confusion in the diagnosis. Our inspectors are not scientists, they 

 might make a mistake in this matter. Anyone who has much to do 

 with bee diseases knows how closely certain diseases and anomalies 

 resemble each other externally. For this reason it is required that 

 all diagnosis be made in the laboratory. The bee division of the 

 Liebefeld Experimental Station performs this task as well as research 

 work on still unknown bee diseases. It was founded by Professor 

 Burri who, in 1904, was the first to give a clear bacteriological 

 differentiation between the two kinds of foul brood. The bee 

 division at Liebefeld (including a department for pollen analysis 

 of honey) gives work at present to six people Its annual budget is 

 about 50,000 fr. The division is not under the authority of the 

 veterinary office but under that of the agricultural department. 

 Still we do not find these 50,000 fr. disproportionate, since the 

 expenditure of the agricultural department for agricultural experi- 

 mental stations is about 1 J million francs annually. The expenditure 

 for bees amounts to only the thirtieth part of this total. 



With the aid of two Figures I should like to make you better 

 acquainted with our experience with foul brood. The first shows 



