ILLINOIS STATE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION 



125 



I refer to the Domestic Science in- 

 struction in our public schools. These 

 earnest ■women are the ones who will 

 rnould the minds of the future genera- 

 tions of housekeepers, while they are 

 yet plastic and capable of vivid and 

 lasting impression. 



These instructors are interested in 

 securing facts in regard to honey, as 

 well as all other foods, and will gladly 

 give to their pupils the truth in re- 

 gard to honey and its proper value in 

 the menu and cooking. 



But these instructors are not famil- 

 iar, themselves, with these things. In 

 fact, the heads of the departments in 

 various states have expressed their 

 lack of accurate information on the 

 subject of the food value of honey. As 

 yet, no systematic effort has been 

 made, to furnish this to them in proper 

 form. 



It is proposed to do this. Already 

 Indiana-, Illinois, Minnesota, and one or 

 two other states have appointed com- 

 mittees of their best men to interest 

 the proper officials and secure this co- 

 operation. 



In Indiana, I am glad to say, the 

 educational department has gven us 

 assurances of hearty co-operaton. 



It will be necessary to furnish the 

 facts and figures, and occasional bulle- 

 tins. And this will cost some money. 



How^ever, it will not cost the one- 

 thousandth part of a newspaper cam- 

 paign of general newspaper advertis- 

 ing, and it will be more efficient and 

 lasting in its offices, and it will con- 

 tinue to grow with the growth of the 

 Domestic Science Department. 



The principal expense will be to pre- 

 pare the proper literature for the in- 

 formation of the teachers. Part of this 

 is already available from the Govern- 

 ment Bulletin, at no cost to us, but 

 must be supplemented by others of dif- 

 ferent characters. 



Step?: have been taken to meet this 

 expense and support the movement by 

 forming an organization, national in 

 its character, to carry out this and 

 other Fimilar policies that may appear 

 later. 



The same literature can be used in- 

 terchangeably in the schools of the 

 different states. 



A nv-mber of bee-keepers have been 

 api-roEched in all parts of the country, 

 and the appeal met with a general re- 

 quest for definite action, and a num- 



her give assurances of financial sup- 

 port. 



The results of the steps taken, both 

 in interesting the state officials in co- 

 operation and the general readiness of 

 the producers to support the move 

 when launched, seemed to indicate 

 success for an organization of this 

 character. 



This is an opportunity that presents 

 itself only once in a decade. The 

 school system is now in its formation 

 stage. 



The officials and teachers are recep- 

 tive. The methods have not settled 

 down into the ruts that will come later. 

 We have a product of sterling work to 

 present to the public at a moderate 

 price, and the public will accept it 

 when properly presented to them. 



The cost to teach each housekeeper 

 will be nominal, compared with bene- 

 fits to be derived. 



I have the assurances of a number 

 of housekeepers in this state who have 

 aJi-fady expressed their willingness to 

 join siich a movement. 



I will be pleased to secure additional 

 Oiifs here at this meeting. 



Mr. Stewart — He spoke of the food 

 value: The average consumer does 

 not care for food value as long as it 

 tastes good. 



President France — There is one thing 

 we h.ave not had. I believe that some 

 of the best meetings ever held in Chi- 

 cago were where there was no program 

 but where the question box was the 

 whole, live proposition, and it has not 

 come to the front in this meeting. If 

 you will write some questions, we will 

 start things going. Let us not make 

 a long discussion out of any one ques- 

 tion. Here is one right here, along the 

 same line of thought: 



Question — Kow shall the selling 

 price be determined? 



Mr. Bruner — In that . connection I 

 would suggest there ought to be some 

 decided movement toward educating 

 the bee-keepers of the country as to 

 the difference between retail and 

 wholesale prices. This Convention 

 ought to appoint some committee to 

 see that the bee papers have printed 

 the difference between retail and 

 wholesale prices. 



The average bee-keeper who does 

 not come to the Conventions takes up 

 a paper and sees the wholesale price 



