94 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



BEES AND HONEY. 



At Manchester, Jan. 2, by R. H. Holmes, President Vermont 

 Beekeepers' Association, Shoreham, Vt. 



The occupation of beekeeping - and production of honey, 

 although not a new industry, is comparatively little known 

 by the general public. 



It is estimated by the best authorities on the subject that 

 there are one hundred and fifty million pounds of honey pro- 

 duced in the United States annually. Of course Vermont 

 produces a very small proportion of this quantity but when it 

 comes to comparison in quality and proportion to the room 

 she occupies on the map. she stands in the front rank in re- 

 gard to honey as well as horses, dairy cows, sheep, butter, or 

 even maple sugar. 



This being the fact, which every public-spirited Ver- 

 monter is ready to affirm, we should ever bear in mind that by 

 "eternal vigilance" only is success retained. It has been said 

 that Vermont is a good state to emigrate from and many that 

 have gone from us to the Middle, Western and Southern 

 States have carried the manhood, integrity and energy, with 

 which they were endowed, among these hills, to the better- 

 ment of mankind, as well as improved methods in farm pro- 

 ductions, thus making themselves competitors with their na- 

 tive State ; so that in beekeeping, as well as other farm pur- 

 suits, one must be continually on the alert for improved meth- 

 ods of caring for the bees, of caring for the honey crop when 

 secured, fitting for market and also placing the crop in the 

 most favorable place for ready and profitable sales. 



As has already been intimated, Vermont is not behind 

 other States in proportion to her area, yet her resources for 

 honey production are only partially developed. Nor is her 

 annual production, amounting to some one hundred fifty 

 thousand pounds, sufficient to supply her own population with 

 anything like what would be consumed if the product were 

 evenly distributed. A little arithmetical calculation shows 

 that not more than one-half pound to each person in the State 

 is produced by the State itself. Add to this the fact that a 

 large proportion of the honey produced goes outside to the 

 larger cities and we must conclude that very many individuals 

 seldom get a taste of this most wholesome and healthy sweet. 

 But while it is desirable that the honey which annually goes 

 to waste should be made use of and that the crop should be 

 evenly distributed, [thus encouraging home production and 



