414 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC KNTOMOT-OGV [Vol. 9 



of the beekeeping industry; from which point of view one has a right 

 to suggest. 



Little need be said of the mahgnance of an over-enthusiastic pres- 

 entation of the possibiUties of beekeeping. The booming of the 

 industry is detrimental to those induced to take it up through false 

 representation and it is perhaps even more harmful to the industry 

 and to the institution that permits such a presentation. Beekeeping 

 can readily be painted in too bright colors, even by telling nothing but 

 the truth, but no presentation is honest which does not tell the whole 

 truth. As the demand for beekeeping courses will probably increase 

 more rapidly than the supply of qualified instructors, this is a danger 

 which must possibly soon be faced. 



The beekeeping industry needs more of two classes of adherents: (1) 

 the beekeeper who is interested in advancing the scientific phases of 

 bee culture, and (2) the professional honey-producer. There are 

 today more professionals than there are scientific beekeepers but the 

 majority of the professionals are men above middle-age and there are 

 few young men taking up the work. Beekeeping is too strenuous a 

 business to depend on amateurs for its existence for, what with the 

 brood diseases and lean years, the amateur is an unstable factor that 

 does not make for permanence in the industry. It is easier to make 

 professional beekeepers than it is to make scientifie beekeepers for 

 two reasons : the training is less exacting and the raw material is more 

 plentiful. The advance of the industry depends chiefly on the work 

 of scientific beekeepers, but its permanence and growth depend on 

 commercial beekeepers. The amateur has little effect on beekeeping 

 except on those who sell the beekeeper's requisites. 



There is opposition to the training of more beekeepers. As soon as 

 this is mentioned, overproduction and overstocking are brought for- 

 ward to overwhelm the suggestion. The industry can be increased ten 

 times before these things become serious for the nectar is available, 

 the consuming public will purchase the products and the nature of the 

 business justifies the increase. We should not neglect our duty be- 

 cause of criticisms due to ungrounded and selfish fear. 



If commercial beekeeping should decline it would be useless for 

 agricultural colleges to continue courses in beekeeping. Furthermore, 

 the college authorities are justified in asking for results and unless the 

 departments of beekeeping can produce commercial beekeepers there 

 will be reason to look for a curtailment of funds for the work. A man 

 teaching Greek is not supposed to produce Greeks, but in vocational 

 training tangible results are expected. While some students take 

 beekeeping for use in horticultural work, they add little to beekeeping 

 and could easily get what information they need elsewhere. Their 

 problem would scarcely justify the giving of courses. 



