BEE DISEASES IN MASSACHUSETTS. 31 
pressed. The rapidity with which they spread, however, makes co- 
operation of bee keepers throughout the State or States essential. 
Sixteen States and Territories now have legislation and inspectors 
designed to protect the bee keepers from the spread of these infectious 
diseases. The State nearest to Massachusetts is New York, where 
the annual loss of bees alone is shown in the following figures: 6 
Previous to 1899, in a limited area, the loss of bees alone is estimated 
at $39,383 
In 1899, when concentrated effort to suppress bee disease was begun, 
it amounted to 25,420 
Id 1900 20, 289 
In 1902 10, 853 
In 1903 the loss of the previous year was halved, making it 5, 860 
In 1903 it was 4,741 
In 1904 it was again divided by two, being 2,220 
In 1905 there was again a reduction of nearly 50 per cent 1, 725 
Total loss of bees, covering about ten years 110, 491 
In other States the encouraging results of inspection and per- 
sistent effort to suppress the inroads of disease are similar. 
INSPECTION. 
Inspectors are not alone police officers. They are educators, up-to- 
date bee keepers giving instructions in modern methods of bee keep- 
ing, thoroughly experienced in treating foul brood, and a great stim- 
ulus to progress. They are necessarily exacting and thorough; but 
the}- are not out to seize and condemn ; their aim is to help the bee 
keepers, to assist them in a cooperative effort to eradicate disease, and 
to promote bee keeping. Of course the individual can do much for 
himself by keeping his own yard clean and free from infection; but 
he is in constant danger of reinfection from his neighbors, if they 
fail to cooperate with him. 
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF TREATMENT FOR BROOD DISEASES. 
Those who are most experienced in the suppression of brood dis- 
eases are agreed that " shaking,'' 6 which is practically " shook swarm- 
ing," and modifications of this process are the only successful methods. 
a The legislation empowering this inspection in twelve of these States and Ter- 
ritories is reprinted from Bui. 01, Bur. Ent., issued November 5, 1906, and en- 
titled "The Laws in Force Against Injurious Insects and Foul Brood in the 
United States," compiled by L. O. Howard and A. F. Burgess. 
''These figures are afforded by a compilation made in 1905 by Mr. Charles 
Stewart from the records of the commissioner of agriculture of New York 
Stair. 
"The various treatments are described by Dr. E. F. Phillips in Circular 79, 
of this Bureau, mentioned above. 
