FIFTEENTH AXXUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 495 



Improper preparation for winter is another common source of 

 loss. Thousands of colonies are allowed to remain on their sum- 

 mer stands without suitable protection, with old and failing 

 queens and frequently with honey dew or other low grade stores. 

 The percentage of annual losses is so large as to make one won- 

 der why some people will keep bees at all. 



With a systematic plan of education such as has been carried 

 on with corn and some other agricultural crops, these losses can 

 be greatly reduced and the production of honey increased to the 

 point of adding millions of dollars annually to the resources of 

 the state. 



Prominent men at Delmar — Frank Coverdale, C. B. Bartholomew, C. P. Dadant 

 and S. W. Snyder. 



THE IOWA BEE KEEPER'S ASSOCIATION. 



It is doubtful whether there is another agricultural organiza- 

 tion accomplishing so much under such unfavorable conditions 

 as the Iowa Bee Keepers' Association. The association has no 

 funds aside from its membership fee of fifty cents annually, yet 

 it is undertaking the improvement of the bee keeping industry 

 along all lines. Its secretary and other officers perform a vast 

 amount of labor without compensation. While the association 

 has never asked for any state appropriation such as has been 

 given the horticultural and other societies it would seem that 



