4 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



veloped, will add a great many thousands of dollars to the resources 

 of the State. Furthermore, the gathering of honey by bees and other 

 insects is a natural process on which many plants depend for the cross 

 fertilization necessary to the best production of their fruits. For in- 

 stance, it is becoming more and more patent to orchardists that in 

 many cases the aid of bees is necessary to affect the cross fertilization 

 required for the set and development of a good crop of apples and 

 other orchard fruits. 



Taking these and also other items not mentioned into consideration, 

 it is evident that the further promotion of bee-keeping is a step in the 

 right direction towards the development of our agricultural resources 

 and towards reducing the high cost of living and increasing the health 

 and well-being of the people of the State. The great demand for the 

 first two bulletins written by Mr. ]Miller and issued bj' the State 

 Board of Agriculture, both of which have long since been exhausted, 

 assures us that the present bulletin will meet a definite need and aid 

 in the promotion of bee-keeping. 



It is to be hoped also in connection with this campaign for bee- 

 keeping that a shght revision of the Bee Inspection Law may be 

 achieved this coming year so as to bring it in line ^^Ith the more 

 recent dtn-elopments in the processes of controlling bee diseases. 

 And, finally, it may not be amiss to express a hope that the bee- 

 keepers of the State will soon find it possible to organize a bee- 

 keepers' association, as already broached by Air. Miller and others, 

 which \\'ill have at least quarterly meetings for the discussion of their 

 problems and for cooperating in the promotion of educational work 

 relating to production, marketing and use of bee products. 



The Board of Agriculture is indebted to the A, I. Root Co., Aledina, 

 O., for permission to use cuts for figures numbered 1 to 23, and to the 

 A. G. Woodman Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., for cut numbered 3-A, 

 and to the W. T. Falconer Mfg. Co., JamestoATO, N. Y., for cut of 

 Air Space Hive (cut number 3-B). 



A. E. STENE. 

 Providence, R. I., Dec. 14, 1917. 



