DISEASE AMONG BEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15130, 22 October 1912, Page 8

DISEASE AMONG BEES.

THE OUTBREAK IN ENGLAND. DANGER FROM IMPORTATIONS. ! Is connection with Mi© recent cablegram stating that a loss of £1,000,000 worth of bees had taken place in 'Britain,' Mr. I. Hopkins, Jato Chief Government Apiarist, informed a Herald representative that the loss has been caused by what is known' as the." Isle of Wight" disease. This disease first came prominently into notice in 1906, and by 1&08 nearly all the bees on the island had perished. * It first, appeared in England in 1909 and quickly spread north in Wales, and Scotland, causing wholesale destruction of hive-bees. At the present lime, 'Mr. Hopkins said, he did not think that there was one county in England, Scotland, or Wales, that was clear of the disease. The matter was of so serious a nature that the greatest anxiety existed among the fruit-growers of Britain lest the honey bee. tho chief cross fertilising agent, of the fruit blossoms should bo destroyed altogether. Investigation of the disease was undertaken by Dr. Maiden, at the instigation of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, who reported in February 1909, with nothing final as to. the cause. Further researches were commenced in March of.last year, by Dr. G. S. Graham-Smith, with whom were associated as colleagues three ) scientists and one practical' beekeeper. All interim report covering some 140 pagos was published in May last, and tho investigations are still going on. * ' This investigation. Mr. Hopkins . continued, seemed to point to a parasitical organism of the Nosema family {one of which caused (lie disease among silkworms known as "pebrino ") as being the cause. This parasito was independently discovered by Dr. Zander, in Bavaria, in 19Q9. No doubt the. absence of suitable legislation to deal with such outbreaks promptly, such as Now Zealand had in its Apiaries' Act, was accountable for the enormous destruction now taking place among the bees in Britain. A recent visitor to England, Mr. Hopkins said, had stated that beekeeping there was in an awful condition, and tho disease was so infectious that if by any chance it made its appearance in New Zealand it would ruin the industry here. "In my opinion," Mr. Hopkins concluded, "The importation of bees from any country where bee disease exists should be prohibited. '*