Bees $ 505,704.50 Appliances 30,342.27 Honey 856,085.48 Queens 2,500.00 Swarms 72,243.50 Total $1,466,875.75 These figures in a conservative way serve to show State aid the importance of the industry of beekeeping as it is in Tennessee today. With the introduction of more modern appliances and better bees and the proper care, who can estimate its future? The prospects for the development of this profitable and delightful industry in Tennessee are very good. The passage of a bill by the Legislature of 1911 means much in the building up and fostering of beekeeping. In brief the bill comprises: "AN ACT to suppress infectious and contagious diseases of bees; to provide for an inspector of apiaries, to define his powers and duties, and to define certain misdemeanors and provide punishment therefore." (Chapter 50, Acts of 1911.) Sections 1 and 2 give the general scope of the Act: "Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That within thirty days from the passage of this Act, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall appoint a duly qualified and competent inspector of Apiaries whose duties it shall be to inspect the bees of the State as prescribed in this Act; and such Inspector of Apiaries shall act under the authority and supervision of the State Board of Entomology. "Section 2. Be it further enacted, That upon receiving information from any source, of the existence of diseases in any apiary in the State, the Inspector of Apiaries shall examine such apiary, and all others in the some locality, and shall ascertain whether or not the disease known as Foul Broad, or any other disease which is infectious or contagious in its nature, and invivious to honey bees, exists in such apiaries, and shall designate each colony and apiary which he finds infected, and shall notify the owner or the person in charge of such bees thereof; and the owner or person in charge of such bees shall at once practically and in good faith, apply, and thereafter fully carry out upon such diseased bees, such treatment, as may have been prescribed by the Inspector for such cases; and shall also thoroughly disinfect to the satisfaction of the Inspector, all bee hives, combs, honey and apparatus used in connection with such diseased bees; or the said owner or person in charge may, at his election utterly destroy by fire all such infected bees, hives, combs, honey and apporatus." This work of apiary inspection was begun during the summer of 1911, when 70 apiaries in different parts of Middle and West Tennessee, representing some 800 colonies, were inspected. Of this number 14 apiaries were found affected with the American foul brood, a bacterial disease of bees which if left untreated will scatter readily and mean a total loss to the apiary and in time ruin the entire beekeeping industry of the State. The 14 cases of disease found were not highly advanced and have been thoroughly treated and eliminated. During the coming season as many apiaries will be inspected as available funds will permit. This important inspection work, together with instruction, means that the industry will be greatly fostered and extended throughout the 96 counties of the State. It is due to these bacterial diseases, bee moth and poor management that many be