February, '15] GATES: MASSACHUSETTS APICULTURAL SERVICE 



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From this table it will be seen that of the apiaries visited in 1911 

 and 1914, the percentage of infected apiaries has dropped from 45 

 per cent to 14 per cent. Likewise, from the standpoint of the individ- 

 ual colonies, the percentage of infected colonies has dropped from 43 

 per cent to 7 per cent. This has a further significance in that there 

 is an increase in the number of colonies which, though slight, must be 

 interpreted with reference to the elimination of the smaller and less 

 prosperous beekeepers. Some of the largest apiaries in the county 

 showed in 1914 no disease whatever, although these yards were in 

 sad condition previously. 



Similar indications of improvement, even to the extent of exceeding 

 the most optimistic anticipations of the beekeepers and inspectors, 

 might be cited for other parts of the State. It should be acknowledged, 

 however, that there are still some rather seriously infected localities, 

 which it has been possible to reach only after the elimination of in- 

 fection in territories already under subjection. 



The writer is frequently asked. to mention the more important fea- 

 tures which have tended toward efficiency in Massachusetts inspection. 

 They may be listed. 



Records. — The record cards are individual for each apiary and bee- 

 keeper in the state. Being of the loose-leaf principle allows them to 

 be kept as a vertical file. The record cards are issued directly to the 

 inspectors when routing their territory. Thus the inspector has be- 

 fore him the complete history of each yard or apiarist and of every 

 transaction concerning both, even to knowing whether he has bought or 

 sold bees within or without the State. Complete records have repeat- 

 edly proven of inestimable service. In the long run they will also 

 afford a comparative statistical study of the State. The inspectors 

 are required to fill in data concerning spring count, winter loss, number 

 of colonies examined, diseased, etc. It takes but little time to record 

 such, but it is required that the entries be made on the premises at the 

 time of inspection, and not later transcribed from a notebook. As 

 soon as the inspection of a town is completed the records are returned 

 to the office, where they are kept on file. Information gained by in- 

 spectors is held as confidential. 



Report Card. — The inspectors have found a report card, which they 

 term the "clean up" order, of considerable advantage. This is a 

 printed form which when signed, causes the beekeeper to promise that 

 he will obey the instructions of the inspector, either to clean up an 

 unsanitary apiary, or to treat or destroy infected colonies, before a 

 given date. It further provides that the beekeeper shall notify the 

 office of having fulfilled these instructions. Space is afforded for the 

 beekeeper to indicate his desire for publications which will be sent from 



