704 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



the lessons, answer the questions in writing, and return these 

 answers for correct ion. Unless a satisfactory showing is made in 

 the answers the next lesson will not be supplied. Thus, a question 

 paper is sent with each lesson, and when each set of questions 

 has been properly answered the next lesson is forwarded. 



The lessons which I am now preparing are necessarily very brief 

 and incomplete, but the fact that our State Agricultural College 

 conducts a course indicates Bee-keeping is a step in advance. I 

 want to make them as helpful as possible to the student of Api- 

 culture, and ask for free critisim in order that further editions may 

 be corrected and improved. 



A few days ago I talked to Prof. Watson, who has charge of the 

 men taking the short course in Agriculture, about giving the short 

 course students some instruction in Bee-keeping. He told me he 

 would try to arrange for a very few lectures on Apiculture, to be 

 given this winter, and that in future years even more time might be 

 given to this work. Thus we have the promise of some direct 

 instruction at the State College at least to the short course men. 



At the request of President Atherton, I have handed him some 

 suggestions for a regular course of instruction in Apiculture, ex- 

 tending over two years, and intended to be a part of the proposed 

 course in Horticulture. This course in Horticulture is intended to 

 be primarily for women, and the value of instruction in Bee-keeping 

 in connection with it is very evident. Dr. Atherton said he could 

 not at this time give any information as to the prospect for the in- 

 auguration of this work, but he appeared to be hopeful. We have 

 thus started a wedge for extended instruction in this subject to the 

 regular four year students who may elect it. 



The fact that there is a correspondence course, the promise of at 

 least some instruction to the short course men, and the interest of 

 the authorities in further work in this line, should cause us to con- 

 gratulate ourselves upon our progress in our educational campaign 

 during the eight months since our Association was formed. 



At the Normal Session of Farmer's Institute Lecturers at Belle- 

 fonte last October I made an address upon Bee-keeping which ap- 

 peared to interest those present in this much neglected branch of 

 Agriculture. Through the kindness of our friend, Mr. E. L. Pratt, 

 I was able to show one of his "Baby Nuclei." The ease with which 

 these bees were handled, and the fact that they clung to the comb 

 while being passed about for examination, were object lessons to 

 those not familiar with improved bees. 



Deputy Secretary Martin, who is the Director of Farmer's In- 

 stitutes, told us at this meeting that he would be pleased to aid us 

 in disseminating knowledge of Apiculture by sending persons quali- 

 fied to speak regarding bees, to Institutes in every county of the 

 State, if we would and could provide the men fitted for such work. 

 We thus have the State Department of Agriculture back of us in 

 this educational movement. I am scheduled to speak at several in- 

 stitutes this winter, and shall endeavor, with the aid of a model of 

 a movable frame hive and fixtures to illustrate the difference be- 

 tween the methods now most common throughout the country dis- 

 tricts and those improved methods with which we are familiar. 



If -the fear of stings can be overcome by showing the possibility 

 of improved bees, the erroneous ideas regarding swarming and its 



