E 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



1 



EDITORIAL 



THK NP:W year of 1918 opens with very 

 unusual promise for beekeepers. That prom- 

 ise is one of con- 

 The Outlook 

 and the Oppor- 

 tunity for 1918 



tinned high prices 

 for their honey. 

 Those prices now 

 are the highest 

 ever known, and it is not too much to say 

 that they will probably be high next sum- 

 mer — just how high in dollars and cents we 

 cannot say, because so much depends on lo- 

 cal conditions. Last season 's crop left in 

 the hands of beekeepers and in storage is 

 very small. There is only a little left at the 

 retail stores, and that little will soon be ex- 

 hausted. If producers last year had secured 

 double and treble what they ever did before, 

 it is our opinion the market would still be 

 almost bare of honey. So even if it were 

 possible to produce that much, prices would 

 still be high and every pound would be taken. 



The use of sugar is to be cut down by 

 the United States Food Administration still 

 loTver to 3 lbs. a month per person, or a 

 little more than one-third the normal* 

 amount consumed. The nations of Europe, 

 so far as sugar is concerned, are in worse 

 condition than we, for while they have sugar, 

 the amount is much smaller than in 

 the United States. Europe is crying for 

 sugar, and must have it. To make up for 

 the shortage she bought honey last season in 

 enormous quantities and by the shipload, and 

 is" still trying to get it. She will be eager 

 to get the new crop as soon as it is avail- 

 able. 



In addition to the enormous demand for 

 honey by the allies, the old avenues of trade 

 in this country are scouring the country to 

 find honey. Since the war began, and since 

 the wide increase of advertising, honey, so 

 far from being a luxury, is coming to be 

 recognized in this country as a staple article 

 of food. When sugar can be obtained only 

 in limited quantities, honey is the only sub- 

 stitute that can be used, and the housewife 

 is using honey as she never did before and, 

 what is more, hor.ey has gone into her home 

 to stay. 



The time was, and not so very long ago 

 either, when the beekeeper who produced his 

 honey had to find a buyer; and even then he 

 had to shade the price down, down, down, 



*The per ( apita consumption of su^ar is about 

 90 lbs. in the United States. 



in order to make a sale. Today the tables 

 are turned. The beekeepers are staying at 

 home, and the buj-ers are coming to them. It 

 is not the beekeepers who are shading their 

 prices now. It is the buyers, one after an- 

 other, who are coming across with more and 

 more money. 



Only recently we came across a case where 

 a producer had a little honey. The buyer 

 asked him how much he would take for it. 

 Ke named an advanced price. The buyer 

 came back, saying he could not pay it, and 

 the beekeeper began to think he had put 

 the price too high. The next mail brought 

 another letter from the buyer, saying he 

 Had concluded to take all his honey at the 

 price stated; and so on it goes. 



Even tho there should be an early world 

 peace, the price would still be high on every- 

 thing, including honey. All food supplies 

 are short, and will be for some time after 

 the great war is over. 



Taking everything into consideration, it is 

 important that the beekeepers of tliis country 

 and Canada speed up. They have the great- 

 est opportunity they ever had. They owe 

 it as a duty to themselves, and, more than 

 all elsC; they owe it as a duty not only to 

 their country and to their allies but to a 

 whole hungry world. As long as the war 

 lasts, sugar will continue to be held down 

 to very small amomits per capita consumption 

 — not enough to supply a balanced ration to 

 each family. It becomes, therefore, a pa- 

 triotic duty on the part of every beekeeper 

 to help make up this balanced ration, be- 

 cause honey is now a recognized and neces- 

 sary food, like wheat, potatoes, and meat. 

 It is far more valuable as an energy-pro- 

 ducer than any one of those three; and 

 while, possibly, no better than sugar, it is 

 more easily assimilated and has flavor. 



In order' to speed ujj, the beekce-per should 

 be prepared. That means he should have his 

 equipment ready, and what additional sup- 

 plies ho needs ordered early. A little later 

 on there will be a greater congestion of 

 freight than now, and it is already bad 

 enough. As freights are slow, the beekeeper 

 will do well to buy of his nearest dealer in 

 order to save long hauls. If he has not al- 

 ready made up his bill of requirements he 

 should do it before the next mail goes out. 

 And even then his supplies may not arrive 

 any too early. The beekeeper who defers 



