ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY

New York STATE COLLEGES
OF
AGRICULTURE AND HomMeE ECONOMICS

AT

EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS

BEEKEEPING LIBRARY

CIRCULAR 11 . APRIL, 1914

Colorado Apiary
Inspection

BY WESLEY FOSTER
Deputy Bee Inspector

OFFICE OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

OFFICIAL STAFF

CEAR ENCE Py CG og ena-y eae mse aa a moma State Entomologist
GEORGE Sl. LIST rsccc vrs eessveeeenvensenes Deputy State Entomologist
WHS Y POS TER ia oscscecicedacesn tunuemcepiaresmieuenienton gunmen Deputy, Bee Inspector

WILLIAM L. BURNETT................. Deputy, Rodent Investigations

COLORADO APIARY INSPECTION

BY WESLEY FOSTER, BOULDER, COLORADO

The beekeeping industry, while one of the minor branches of agri-
culture, assumes proportions in Colorado of commercial importance in all
the irrigated districts. Bees are kept on something ‘over five thousand
farms, and over one hundred thousand colonies make up the apiary pop-
ulation of the state. The value of honey, wax, and hive products totals
over half a million dollars a year. The honey industry is one of con-
servation. If the nectar of the flowers is not gathered by the bees, it is
lost. The outlay for supplies is less than in most lines of production,
so that the net wealth production from beekeeping is greater than ap-
pears in the figures. The value of bees in the cross-pollination of fruit
blossoms is very great and can hardly be estimated in dollars and cents.

The honey resources of Colorado have not been fully developed for
two main reasons. First, the ravages of American foul-brood have deci-
mated the number of colonies of bees in many counties of the state.
There are few important honey-producing districts where foul-brood is
not a menace to the life and profits of the industry.

The second main reason for the tardy development of the industry
is the heavy winter losses sustained every few years. Winter losses in
Colorado are caused by lack of protection given the colonies during the
winter, practically all colonies being wintered in single-walled hives on
their summer stands, and a poor quality of honey stored in the hives for
the winter supply.

With a more general understanding and practice of the best bee-
keeping methods, losses from foul-brood and wintering would not be so
common.

It is the experience of all practical beekeepers that, after combating
foul-brood for a few years, it loses its terrors for them. Its rapid spread
and quick destruction of whole colonies and apiaries cause those who en-
counter the disease for the first time considerable alarm, but, after treat-
ing the disease and curing it in many colonies, the beekeeper soon real-
izes that, with watchfulness, he is easily master of the situation.

This situation has led many beekeepers and inspectors to the opin-
ion that foul-brood is a blessing in disguise, because it eliminates the
eareless beekeeper and is not a terror to the experienced operator.
American foul-brood responds to treatment in a satisfactory manner, and
serious concern need not be felt by anyone who will follow the instruc-
tions given by the inspectors, or directions found in bee journals and
publications on bee culture.

It is practically impossible to rid a district entirely of disease, but it
is easy so to reduce the percentage of foul-brood that there is very little
loss each year.

APIARY INSPECTION IS EDUCATIONAL

The work of apiary inspection is, first, one of instruction in the
nature of bee diseases, their detection and cure. The inspector who is
thoroughly competent and conversant with his duties will so help and
instruct the beekeepers that a large proportion of them can be their own
inspectors.

Next in importance of an inspector’s duties should be using his
thorough knowledge of the spread of disease over the county so as to
prevent the further distribution of the infection by indiscriminate mov-
ing of diseased apiaries. It is necessary to have a permit from the in-
spector before moving or shipping an apiary. If it is desired to move an
apiary, application for a permit must be made to the inspector, who will
examine the apiary and, if found free of disease, issue a permit, unless
special quarantine regulations have been adopted in the districts af-
fected, which would preclude issuance of a permit at the time of the
first examination.

THE INSPECTOR’S PROCEDURE

When foul-brood is found in an apiary, each colony is to be ex-
amined by the inspector and all diseased colonies marked, and the owner
or caretaker givén instructions for curing the diseased bees and dis-
infecting all other beekeeping material that might spread the disease.
The inspector is then authorized by the law to inspect the other apiaries
in the vicinity, to ascertain the extent to which the disease may be
spread. If the inspection work is thoroughly done, and a second inspec-
tion made ten days to two weeks after the first one, to see that all dis-
eased colonies have been treated, foul-brood may be reduced in percent-
age quite rapidly. Any diseased colonies or apiary appliuncves from
which bees may be robbing infected honey should be burned or buried at
once by the inspector. The beekeeper who is so careless as to allow the
robbing of diseased hives in his yard will hardly ve careful enough, in
rendering diseased material, to prevent further spreading of the disease
when doing this work.

BEEKEEPERS’ AID TO THE INSPECTOR

The work of the county inspector can be greatly aided by the bee-
keepers themselves through information, suggestions, and advice. If
the majority of the beekeepers are not supporters of the inspection work,
the results secured will be insignificant. The inspection work can be
aided in no better way than through the organization of county bee-
keepers’ clubs or associations. County beekeepers’ clubs are generally
organized for some or all of the following things: to secure the support
of the inspection work by the county commissioners; to offer advice and
suggestions to the inspector as to the prosecution of his work; to main-
tain a uniform price on honey; to club orders for bee supplies; to pro-
mote the educational and social interests of the members, etc.

One feature that is especially helpful to the inspector is for each
member to furnish the inspector with the number and location of his
colonies, and the names and location of all his neighboring beekeepers,
in order that the inspector may have as complete a list as possible of all
the beekeepers in the county.

FALL AND WINTER INSPECTION OF BEES

Spring and early summer is the season for the inspector to do the
bulk of his work. But cases arise when it is important to do some in-
spection at other seasons of the year. If, as often happens, the inspector
does not have time or opportunity to inspect all the bees in the spring
and early summer, a superficial fall inspection of these apiaries will
give him an opportunity to find dead or dying diseased colonies, and to
destroy them before robbing has spread the disease farther.

A colony affected with foul-brood in the fall is very iukely to die
during the winter, and, if not attended to when found, will spread the
disease.

A bee tent may prove of value to the inspector in doing some of the
necessary fall inspection, if the bees are incline@ to rob. In small
apiaries, of not over a dozen hives, robbing will hardly be induced, as
the inspection is soon done; but in larger apiaries a tent is a necessity
if the inspection has to be done. ;

In winter inspection the hives should not be opened unless the day is

Nae see bees are flying. It is easy to find the diseased colonies
at would spread the disease, if there are any, without o i

hives and disturbing the bees, nan

WILD BEES IN TREES, ROCKS, AND BUILDINGS

Objection to the spending of county funds for inspection work has
been made at times on account of the presence of bees in the woods,
crevices in the rocks, between the walls of buildings, etc. The argu-
ment is put forward that, unless the bees are cleaned out of these places,
foul-brood will never be eradicated. It is true that bees in these places
are a menace, but their number is so small, in comparison with the bees
in hives, that it has been found to be a negligible influence. Where the
inspection work has been carried on thoroughly, foul-brood has been re-
duced to the minimum in spite of the wild bees.

Bees in buildings may be removed, or the holes through which they
gain access stopped up; and the same may be done with bee trees, if
such are easily accessible.

THE COUNTY WITH NO INSPECTOR

_ In case there is no inspector in your county, or he is not available
when, most needed, you can still make beekeeping profitable, so far as
disease is concerned. If you fully understand the treatment of foul-
brood, you will keep your own apiary thoroughly inspected and clear.
and by helping your neighbors care for their bees, or by buying them
out, you can keep foul-brood at a safe distance from your own apiary. It
is cheaper in these cases to do considerable work gratuitously than to
have one’s colonies continually reinfected.

COLORADO COUNTY APIARY INSPECTORS FOR THE YEAR 1914

County Inspector Address
AGAMS)-si65 2a eee ag inet Se BARE Walter Martithewcns ce. cevseeeiatedes Brighton
Bent: » teseiisdsGs ort te deacons dws ee Charles: Che@kicyss sydayess coun es Las Animas
Boulder: cco esis cmcnansiaunen sicesisitiens 088 B.C Birds aaks ccaiwes Saeksas eee he Boulder
CrOWI16Y as eed sedencd ys bition vias se Harry IN Gal Sis iec ts severe sce emdoudic asters Ordway
IDSlta acne tos at SRC ete Se RL Weer BMS OY se: sveainsi sac csvineseys sadranatene sayin “6 Read
BIPOMOt siccsia 6c icecenka ee odes & EROS BY We Brainard svcasiicc sa niin Hsiches Canon City
Garfield 0... 0.00. ccc cee nsec ee eenene Jy Hs Garener ia: ce aas x eae # Grand Valley
FOMOLSOM. ase asda sane tiewraere an aremiorns os Lincoln: Steppe-s once: peeves seeeese os Golden
Tearimer 2 os sekioe 26s eases eles oe W:; Cy BVans§ ici5 666 eacea aes 58 Fort Collins
GOBAN, seeing ss sets bo aces reas oeLseO Dumham...... cece n ccs e een e eae Merino
IMeS4). caunnsst Gaunt aen e ra ieeens Wm. Harkleroad............. Grand Junction
Montezuma ........-- cece eee eens Shelby Harless........ .. ce cee eee ee near Cortez
MOMtroSe) i555 sdesceiins coo snp aiisin tee sceceneie George Nichols...........0.eeeeseeee Montrose
Morgan 6 cies ee ei aied oe weaidee eee Rie ©) Clarynnicttiaai so eee eee Fort Morgan
OUCKO oss eins Eee SEN Ha eata Ns Sey ene Si (Gi W008 scictai i cee haw dees Rocky Ford

PrOWErS 1.6... cee cece rer eeeetanes D. C. PolhemuS........:.- esse ceeeees Lamar

CHAPTER 7.

APIARY INSPECTION.
(S. B. No. 169, by Senator Tobin and Mr. Skinner.)
AN ACT

TO ESTABLISH A DIVISION OF APIARY INSPECTION AND _IN-
VESTIGATION UNDER THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST; TO PRO-
VIDE FOR INVESTIGATIONS IN BEE CULTURE AND THE IN-
SPECTION OF BEES FOR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES; TO PRO-
VIDE FOR THE PREVENTION AND SPREAD OF BEE DISEASES;
TO PROVIDE FOR COUNTY APICULTURAL INSPECTORS, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF BEES FROM BOX HIVES;
TO PROVIDE FOR THE PREVENTION OF THE POISONING OF
BEES BY FRUIT TREE SPRAYS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT;. TO MAKE AN
APPROPRIATION FOR CARRYING OUT THIS ACT, AND TO RE-
PEAL ALL ACTS AND PARTS OF ACTS IN CONFLICT WITH
THIS ACT.

Be It Hnacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

State Entomologist to inspect, deputies.

Section 1. The State Entomologist is hereby authorized to conduct a
division of apiary investigation and of inspection of bee diseases directly
or through a deputy, who is experienced in apiculture, the investigation
to cover the introduction of nectar producing plants, the agencies influ-
encing the secretion of nectar in plants, and such other objects as may
advance bee culture in Colorado. The inspection shall extend to all parts
of the State where bees are kept, for the prevention, eradication or con-
trol of bee diseases.

County Apicultural Inspectors.

Section 2. The persons employed under this act, aside from the
State Entomologist and his deputy in charge of apiculture, shall be the
County Apicultural Inspectors, whose duties it shall be to carry out the
provisions of this act, Assistant Apicultural Inspectors working under the
general direction of the County Apicultural Inspectors, when necessary,
and engaged by the Apicultural Inspectors, with the consent of the
County Commissioners; and helpers who shall be common laborers em-
ployed to aid in carrying out the provisions of this act.

County Commissioners appoint.

: Section 3. The County Commissioners of any county, when peti-
tioned by not less than fifteen bee keepers of their county to appoint an
Apicultural Inspector, shall make such appointment as soon as possible.

State Entomologist to examine.

It shall be the duty of the State Entomologist to examine all per-
sons appointed by the County Commissioners as Apicultural Inspectors,
and if found competent and fully qualified to perform the duties of the
office he shall issue to such applicant a license as a County Apicultural
Inspector; which license shall certify to the competency of such applicant
and shall authorize him to act as County Apicultural Inspector for a
period of one year or until his successor has qualified.

“1

Notify Entomologist of fou! brood.

Section 4. Every bee keeper or other person who shall be aware of
the existence of foul brood, or any other infectious or contagious dis-
ease of bees, either in his own apiary or elsewhere in the State, shall
immediately notify the State Entomologist, his deputy or the County
Apicultural Inspector of the existence of such diseases.

Notice, examinations,

Section 5. The State Entomologist, his deputy in charge of apicul-
ture, or the County Apicultural Inspector, shall, when notified in writing
by the owner of an apiary or any bee keeper, examine any reported
apiaries and if any contagious disease is present, examine all others in
the same locality, not reported and ascertain whether or not any dis-
ease known as American Foul Brood, European Foul Brood, or any other
disease which is infectious in its nature and injurious to honey bees. in
their egg, larval, pupal, or adult stages, exists in such apiaries; and if
satisfied of the existence of any such disease shall give the owner or
caretaker of the diseased apiaries full written or printed instructions
how to treat such cases as in his judgment seem best, and state a time
in which his instructions shall be carried out.

Destroy colonies not cured.

Section 6. The State Entomologist, his deputy in charge of apicul-
ture, or the county apicultural inspector may, if necessary, visit all dis-
eased apiaries a second time, after ten days and if need be destroy all
colonies of bees that he may find not cured of such disease, and all
honey, combs, and appliances, which would spread disease, without
recompense to the owner, lessee or agent thereof. .

Permit to move.

Section 7. No person or persons, either as owner, agent, servant,
employe, or common carrier, shall sell, barter or give away or move an
apiary, bees, honey or bee keeping appliances wherein disease exists
without a permit from the State Entomologist, his deputy in charge of
apiculture, or the County Apicultural Inspector.

Transfer from box to movable frame hives.

Section 8. The State Entomologist, his deputies or apicultural in-
spectors shall have full power in their discretion to order any owner or
possessor of bees dwelling in box hives (being hives without movable
combs) to transfer such bees to movable frame hives within a specified
time.

Authorized to enter premises.

' Section 9. The State Entomologist, his deputy or an Apicultural
Inspector having jurisdiction, together with such help as they may need
in the prosecution of their work, are authorized during reasonable busi-
ness hours, to enter upon or into-any premises, land, buildings or places
where bees or bee keeping appliances are kept, for carrying out the pro-
visions of this act.

Disinfection.

Section 10. After inspecting infected hives or fixtures or handling
diseased bees, the inspector or his assistants, shall before leaving the
premises or proceeding to any other apiary, thoroughly disinfect any
portion of their person and clothing and any tools and appliances used
by them which have come in contact with infected material.

Unlawful spraying.

Section 11. It shall be unlawful to spray fruit trees while in full
bloom with any poisonous spray which is injurious to bees in their egg,
larval or adult stages.

Punishment by fine. -

Section 12. Each and every violation of any of the provisions of
this act, and each and every non-compliance with the provisions thereof,
or any of them, or non-compliance with any notice or direction given by
the apicultural inspector in charge under the provisions of this act, shall
be punishable by fine in the sum of not less than five nor more than one
hundred dollars, and each and every day that any person, firm or cor-
poration shall fail to comply with any notice in writing received from
the State Entomologist, his deputy or apicultural inspector shall be
deemed a separate offense.

Salary and expenses of deputy.

Section 13. The salary and expenses of the deputy in charge of api-
culture in carrying out the provisions of this act shall be paid from the
State Treasury, but the per diem and expenses of the County Apicultural
Inspectors and their assistants shall be paid out of the treasuries of the
counties where their work is performed in each case.

Per diem of Inspectors.

County Apicultural Inspectors shall receive four dollars ($4.00) a day
and assistant inspectors three dollars and a half ($3.50) a day in addi-
tion to their actual and reasonable expenses for time actually spent in
carrying out the provisions of this act.

Appropriation.

Section 14. The sum of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)
per annum is hereby appropriated to be expended for this work under the
direction of the State Entomologist, to pay the salary of the deputy in
charge of apiculture, the necessary expenses in traveling, printing blanks
and circulars, and in otherwise carrying out the provisions of this act.

The State Auditor is hereby authorized to draw his warrants upon
the State Treasurer for the sum herein appropriated upon the presenta-
tion of proper vouchers, and the treasurer shall pay the same out of any
funds in the State Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

Repealing clause.

Section 15. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act are
hereby repealed.
Approved: May 2, 19138, at 8:09 o’clock P. M.

_e” Library

ws