AN OrEN LETTER TO MINNESOTA BEEKEEPERS. 



To meet the extreme situation facing the country of the high prices 

 and shortage of foods the United States Government has issued a call for 

 increased production and better distribution of all food materials. The 

 present 10% shortage in the sugar supply is conservatively estimated to be 

 30% or more by July 1, 1917. It is therefore urged that honey production 

 be raised to its greatest capacity and efficiency. Not only will this in- 

 creased supply of honey materially help to meet the sugar shortage, but it 

 will bring honey into actual general use among the public with beneficially 

 healthful results. Incidentally of course the beekeepers themselves will 

 profit from increased honey production in this and following years, as the 

 wholesale price of honey, formerly 8% and 9 cents per pound, is now 11 and 

 12 cents, and there seems to be none obtainable anywhere in the United 

 States at the present time. The nation's need, an open market and good 

 prices, present an opportunity for the beekeepers. 



To meet the call of the Government and bring honey production to a 

 greater capacity and efficiency, organization and cooperation among the 

 beekeepers is very desirable. With this in mind it is strongly urged ^that 

 wherever possible for four or five or more beekeepers to get together, a 

 local or county club or association be formed conveniently located in the 

 county, to become a branch of the Minnesota Bee Keepers' Association and 

 hold local meetings every two weeks or so in May and June at least, where 

 papers on present best methods of swarm control, honey production, mar- 

 keting, etc., may be discussed with field meetings and demonstrations in bee- 

 yards the same day whenever possible. 



It is planned to somewhat decrease for the immediate present the 

 amount of beekeeping work at University Farm and help Minnesota bee- 

 keepers in this work of organization, meetings, papers, discussions, field 

 meetings and demonstrations, bringing as much as possible to the bee- 

 keepers the present best methods of swarm control, honey production, mar- 

 keting, etc. 



Every beekeeper is requested to get in touch with all possible local and 

 county beekeepers immediately, the day this number of the Horticulturist is 

 received if possible, choose a chairman and secretary and decide when and 

 where in your county the first meeting of the organization will be held, adver- 

 tise it well with notices, etc., in all the local papers, write to us for sample 

 organization plans, papers, etc., and if possible someone from University 

 Farm will be present, and probably also a representative from the State 

 Beekeepers' Association. 



As the winter losses the past winter for Minnesota are very heavy our 

 best efforts are needed to meet the present situation. 



May we hear from you as soon, as convenient? 



(2C5 ) 



