100 EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Some are able to sell their honey profitably by mail. They adver- 

 tise in local papers in a district where honey is not produced extensively, 

 establish a name for quality and business dealing, have a convenient 

 standardized package, and shi^ by freight or express. Neighbors club 

 orders to save freight and while the price is higher than wholesale it 

 is lower than retail enought to give the consumers an attractive price. 



Now to repeat the points I have endeavored to make in reference 

 to developing a bee-keeping business: One must first study to obtain 

 the knowledge necessary for the successful care of bees. This is got 

 by observation, reading, conversing, attending conventions, short 

 courses, etc. Next the development of a system for solving the three 

 great problems of bee-keeping, viz, The Strength of the Colony 

 (including wintering and spring management), The Integrity of the 

 Colony, (including swarm-control and re-queening), and the Health 

 of the Colony. In establishing out-apiaries one must consider the 

 locaUty, location and transportaion. As to buildings and equipment 

 a definite policy should be settled and adhered to. Without being 

 Extravagant equipment should be adequate for rapid work and the 

 comfort of the workers. Give particular attention to the sfeUing of 

 the crop, for a successful sale of the crop is the climax of and the re- 

 ward for the year's labor, care and anxiety. I thank you. (Applause.) 



Mr. Kildow. — A word or two in regard to selling the crop. 

 Mr. Pettit made the statement that if you had less than ten thousand 

 pounds you would not have to ship. I believe that depends on cir- 

 cumstances. I live in what you might call a rural community. If I 

 had to sell ten thousand pounds at home, I would be about ten years 

 selling it. I have to ship because there is no other way to do it, or 

 else eat it. I cannot eat it all, I do a good share of it. But if you live 

 next to a city, probably five or ten thousand people, you would not 

 need to ship, but in a rural district and with other bee-keepers as 

 neighbors, we must ship, we have no other way to get around it. That 

 is the way it looks to me, so I think you have to take that with a little 

 grain of salt, with the conditions that you are in. 



Mr. Pettit. — I think Mr. Kildow understands that I was making 

 that as a general statement. It must be modified to suit the circum- 

 stances, there is no question about that. I was only endeavoring, to 

 counteract the tendency that so many bee-keepers have to skip the 

 home market and ship it all to the centers. 



Mr. Kildow. — Yes, I understand. 



The President. — There is a great tendency among bee-keepers 

 to neglect their home market. They can get a better price if they 

 sell it at home than go to the expense of shipping it. 



The Secretary. — When we used to sell honey we waited for 

 orders to come from Springfiled. We had blank order cards on which 

 to get the orders and we would distribute them, give them a blank card 

 every time we took a pail of honey to them and we depended entirely 

 on the Springfield market, those postal cards and a notice on the trees 

 near the front gate, "Extracted honey for sale." We do not have to 

 bring our honey to market, they come right to the honey-house door 

 and try to get more than we can furnish. I have covered up the sign, 

 but still some of them stop and ask if they can get honey. 



