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The Tennessee Agriculture Train started on its tour over 
Exhibition on the State on July Ist. On July 4th the Chairman of the Ten- 
agricultural train nessee Board of Entomology instructed me to join the 
train at Franklin, Tenn., with an apiary exhibit, and spend 
. . the months of July and August in an educational campaign 
in the interest of the beekeeping industry. The exhibit, being hastily prepared, was 
not as nearly complete as desired. It consisted, however, of observatory and work- 
ing hives, with frames of foundation-drawn comb, division boards and queen ex- 
cluder, extractor, an uncapping melter, smoker, veils, feeders, extracted and comb 
honey, specimens of Caucasian, German and Italian queens, and a good working 
colony of bees in an observatory hive, with super. This apiary exhibit, while small, 
proved one of the most attractive exhibits on the train. A working colony of bees 
in an observatory hive with glass sides, so the bees could be seen in their movements 
over the comb, was an interesting revelation to the thousands of people who passed 
through the train. Demonstrations and instructions in beekeeping were given in 
the car by the exhibit at every stop the train made throughout the State. In additiin 
to these demonstrations in the car, about 100 open-air lectures were given on bee- 
keeping. 
Literature on beekeeping as a practical and profitable industry was distributed 
until the supply was exhausted. Much interest was manifested in the modern 
methods of keeping bees, with many calls for bulletins, books and pamphlets of 
instruction. 
The names and addresses of beekeepers and those interested in the honey 
industry were gathered at every stop the train made. These have been filed, both 
alphabetically and by counties, for ready reference and convenience in mailing out 
bulletins and other literature of instruction. - 
While on the train we were particularly impressed with the 
< need of education and instruction in beekeeping among 
i helaniee beekeepers. Old and unprofitable methods should be dis- 
earded and ali the practical methods should be taught, so 
as to enable the beekeepers to gather the tons and tons of 
honey that are going to waste every year. Thousands of acres of Tennessee soil 
are covered every spring with white clover blossoms, from which we get the finest of 
honey. This natural resource of wealth should not be allowed to go ungathered be- 
cause of ignorance. According to the last census report issued by the Government, 
Tennessee ranked third in the number of hives or colonies, but only fifth in honey 
production. This low place in honey yield grows out of the fact that the majority 
of the 300,000 colonies in the State are kept in old-fashioned “gums” or homemade 
boxes, and cared for by impsactical and unprofitable methods. This is not as it 
should be, and your Inspector of Apiaries will exert himself to develop the industry 
through lectures, demonstrations and the mailing of bulletins, circulars and letters 
of instruction. 
This educational work, however, will be much hampered by the present small 
appropriation. One thousand dollars falls far short of the amount needed to promote 
this industry. The annual income from honey and wax is only about $25,000, when 
the available natural resources are approximately $2,000,000. 
The work on the Agricultural Train stopped September 1st. Inspection work was 
then resumed and continued until cold weather. Most of the work was done in 
Robertson, Williamson and Bedford Counties. The losses from diseased colonies in 
Bedford County were heavy. Whole apiaries were wiped out with black brood, and 
the beekeepers discouraged. Nearly two weeks were spent in this county treating 
colonies and giving instruction. At no place was my inspecton work resented. Every 
beekeeper was willing and ready to cooperate with me. - 
After advising with the Board of Entomology, a lantern 
Lectures given outfit was purchased for giving illustrated lectures on Bee 
Culture during the winter months. Lectures with and with- 
out the lantern have been given during October, November and December, at the 
following places: Jackson, at the West Tennessee Farmers’ Convention; Fairfield, 
Water Valley, Bellbuckle, Nashville, Capers, Egansville, Smyrna, Bethel, with two 
other engagements at Oakland and Dosset that failed. Sickness prevented a lecture 
at the Middle Tennessee Farmers Institute at Nashville. 
The number of reports of bee diseases have been disappoint- 
Report of diseases ing. The fear of having their bees destroyed, or discourage- 
ment and indifference, or a lack of confidence in curative and 
preventive treatment, or ignorance of the Apiary Law, has made the beekeepers slow 
about reporting troubles. 
After studying the conditions of the honey industry in Tennessee for these six 
months of my commission, I have outlined the following plan of work for the re- 
maining winter months: First, to continue the lecturing; second, to obtain, as far 
as possible, the names of all the beekeepers in the State; third, to mail out literature 
on beekeeping; fourth, to invite cooperation and insist upon reports of bee diseases 
A tabulation of all reports will be kept and arranged for a vigorous inspection cam- 
paign in the early spring. 
Very truly, 
J. S. WARD, 
Inspector of Apiaries. 
